Taraji P. Henson Inks First-Look Deal With Fox Entertainment Studios

EXCLUSIVE: Empire star Taraji P. Henson is returning in the Fox fold, signing a first-look deal with Fox Entertainment Studios for her TPH Entertainment. Under the multi-year pact, Henson, alongside Jamila Jordan-Theus, Head of Development and Production at TPH Entertainment, and their team will be developing a slate of scripted and unscripted projects for Fox Entertainment Studios spanning comedy, drama, and reality formats. Henson will executive produce and could potentially star.

“Taraji brings tremendous vision, commitment and creative fearlessness to every project, making her a truly inspiring partner,” said Fox Entertainment Studios’ Hannah Pillemer, Head of Scripted and Allison Wallach, Head of Unscripted. “Together with TPH Entertainment, we’re excited to empower new voices and develop projects that both entertain and captivate today’s audiences.”

Henson is known for her Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe–winning portrayal of Cookie Lyon on Fox’s Empire, as well as her performances in The Color Purple, Hidden Figures and her Oscar-nominated turn in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Fox previously explored a Cookie Empire spinoff with Henson.

She most recently starred in Netflix’s Straw, which led to a two-picture deal with the streamer, and in Peacock’s limited series Fight Night. Following a Tony Award nomination for producing Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Henson will make her Broadway acting debut alongside Cedric the Entertainer in Debbie Allen’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Previews will begin March 30 at Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre.

“We are thrilled to work in partnership with Fernando Szew and the entire Fox Entertainment Studio team as we continue to produce thoughtful and bold stories alongside authentic voices,” Henson and Jordan-Theu said. “TPH stands on the pillars of community, so we are eager to embrace this storytelling collective and deliver compelling creative to audiences across the globe.”

Henson is repped by IAG, M88 and attorney Jamie Feldman.