Know Why Lee Daniels Called Empire His ‘Worst Experience’ But Also The Show That Helped Him in a Way

As an ardent fan, I must confess that Lee Daniels‘ life experiences in the realm of showbiz are nothing short of intriguing! His journey from independent filmmaking to the major leagues of television with Empire is indeed inspiring. However, it seems that the road to success wasn’t always paved with gold for Mr. Daniels.


Lee Daniels is renowned for several impressive works, one of which is the critically-acclaimed Fox drama series Empire. However, directing this show presented a unique challenge compared to the enjoyment many viewers derived from it.

During a conversation with The Film Stage, director Lee Daniels shared that working on the popular Fox series “Empire” was among the most challenging and difficult periods in his life.

In an interview, the director of “The Butler” expressed that he prefers not to limit his role within a project to being merely creative. He also mentioned that at the start of his TV career, his main goal was simply to have someone other than a suit giving him directions.

In other words, it was stated that the director, during The United States vs. Billie Holiday, expressed a desire to partake in what his peers were engaged with, jotting down observations, which ultimately led him to participate in the television series.

During the course of the interview, Lee Daniels shared that initially, all of his films were independent productions. However, as he delved into the television industry with Empire, he developed an inclination towards collaborating with major film studios.

As a film connoisseur looking back on my journey, I’d like to shed some light on the genesis of one of my earliest works, “Monster Ball.” This project, you see, was brought to life through unconventional resources – funds derived from the world of narcotics. However, it’s important to note that all my subsequent films, including the critically acclaimed “Precious,” were independently financed. This autonomous financial backing afforded me the creative freedom to steer my projects in the direction I saw fit.

Additionally, Daniel observed that no superior was present to influence or persuade him to perform tasks differently for his individual assignments.

Discussing his cinematic buddies, screenwriters included, who had previously worked under Lee Daniels, he openly shared his motivation for taking on ‘Empire’. It was to acquire the valuable experience that such a position offered, which is precisely why he initially decided to work on it.

Despite the fact that working on Empire proved to be a negative ordeal for him, he emphasized that the process wasn’t particularly pleasant. However, financially speaking, the director acknowledged that the series provided him with significant earnings, enabling him to cover the tuition costs for his children’s college education.

Lee Daniels’ mindblowing work can be seen in the new Netflix project The Deliverance. The horror movie stars Andra Day, Glenn Close, Demi Singleton and more. 

On August 16, 2024, the movie titled “The Deliverance” premiered. This production featured Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in leading roles.

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2024-09-06 11:08