For the past two seasons, Fox's musical family drama "Empire" has given its avid viewers different characters that are easy to love and despise. Foremost of these characters are the bubbly yet feisty Cookie Lyon, played by Taraji P. Henson, and her husband, patriarch Lucious Lyon, played by Terrence Howard.
When the popular series returns for its third season, fans will get a glimpse of a different version of these two divisive characters: their teenage selves. Because of this, "Empire" has cast two new faces to play the young Cookie and Lucious Lyon.
According to Deadline.com, Ajiona Alexus was cast to portray the young Cookie in flashback scenes in "Empire" Season 3. Her character was described by the website as a beautiful, innocent teenager, whose Catholic school uniform can't hide "the Cookie spark."
Alexus earlier appeared in "Code Black" and will also star in the upcoming Netflix young-adult-book-turned-drama-series, "13 Reasons Why."
Showbiz newcomer Jeremy Carver was meanwhile tapped to play the young Lucious, who was described by Deadline.com as a teenager with an incredible voice "and a bad-boy edge that captures the heart" of young Cookie.
Aside from these two young stars, Ezri Walker will also appear in guest roles in "Empire" Season 3. He will play a nerdy 16-year old "with an edge and real talent as a rapper. With his high GPA and serious smarts, this teenager finds himself torn between a future at an elite university and a career at Empire under the guidance of the legendary Lucious Lyon."
As earlier reported by Entertainment Weekly, another musician and actor will add more star power to the already star-studded show: Scott Mescudi, more popularly known as "Kid Cudi."
Mescudi, who earlier appeared in "James White" and "Entourage," was cast to provide some stiff competition for the youngest Lyon prodigy, Hakeem, played by Bryshere Y. Gray. When the second season ended, Gray's character was left in a bit of a spiral due to his cancelled wedding with Latina teen star, Laura.
Mescudi's character will be known as independent musician, Gram, who is dating Hakeem's ex-girlfriend, Tiana.
