Empire

Imagine "Empire" with Shaft in the lead role ... that was the vision one guy had, but it never got made ... and now he believes the creators of the show owe him $500 million for stealing his idea.

A guy named Jon Astor-White is suing EPs Danny Strong and Lee Daniels -- as well as Imagine Entertainment and 21st Century Fox -- claiming he shopped around a show called "King Solomon" back in 2007 ... which bears a lot of similarities to "Empire."

Astor-White claims his show would have starred Richard Roundtree (Shaft said no thanks) and was about a record executive and his family and their battle over control of the company.

Astor-White said he faxed the treatment around, and included a proposed cast list which was aspirational, to say the least. In addition to Roundtree, Astor-White wanted Diahann Carroll, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, John Goodman, George Hamilton and Angie Dickinson.

Astor-White describes his show as "the style and elegance of 'Dynasty' meets 'The Sopranos' with a sprinkling of 'The Godfather.'" That's a similar comparison Marvin Gaye III made in his claim.

The show has also been sued by a guy with Jackson family connections and by a woman who claims she is the real Cookie.

Wesley Snipes is a gracious man ... instead of having regrets about passing on playing Lucious Lyon ... he's got nothing but love for the show and its star.

Snipes was walking into Bootsy Bellows Tuesday night and told our photog there's no torment over turning down the role that eventually went to Terrence Howard ... and he'd even be open to a guest spot on the show.

Not sure where Snipes will find the time ... he's got "The Player" premiering next month and he's working on a new superhero character ... that could be better than Blade.

Better than Blade? Them's big shoes to fill ...

Terrence Howard can't talk about Friday's testimony -- that his make-out scene with Jennifer Hudson triggered an insane reaction from then-wife Michelle Ghent -- but he was quick to tell us how Lucious Lyon would handle the court case ... and it's pretty violent.

The honchos who run "Empire" don't know how to pay Terrence Howard because his ex-wife is gunning for his paycheck, so they've asked a judge for help in determining the payee.

Twentieth Century Fox is in a bind. Terrence is making big bank for the hit show, but according to his settlement agreement with Michelle, she's entitled to a chunk of his "Empire" salary.

Michelle has asked Fox to deduct the amount she's owed from Terrence's check and send it to her. Terrence is demanding the full amount, because he believes the settlement agreement is invalid.

So here's the bind. If Michelle's right, but Fox pays Terrence the full amount, they may be on the hook to her. If Terrence is right, but they pay Michelle what she's demanding, Fox may have to pay that amount again to him.

Terrence Howard’s character on Empire owes everything to Kelly Rowland … cause she’s going to play his mother on the show for season 2.

Kelly is set to make an appearance on the upcoming season in the form of a flashback as Lucious Lyon’s mother.

The 34-year-old singer recently popped up in a post from the official Empire writers Twitter account hanging with the screenwriters.

She’s joining a long list of guest stars jumping on the show – Chris Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys and Marisa Tomei.

The new season starts September 23rd.

Chris Rock's doing hard time for season 2 of "Empire" ... as an inmate alongside the man himself -- Lucious Lyon.

"Empire" co-creator Lee Daniels posted a few photos from the first day of filming the new season ... which we now know will feature Rock and Terrence Howard behind bars, playing chess.

Rock is the first of a parade of huge guest stars Daniels has lined up ... Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz are also confirmed, but the big one -- Oprah Winfrey -- is still just rumored.

If there's a God, O will be the prison warden!

Taraji P. Henson is laid up in a hospital bed with a bad case of food poisoning ... TMZ has learned.

The queen of "Empire" posted a pic of her arm with an IV drip -- and our "Empire" sources tell us she's had trouble keeping anything down since getting off a plane yesterday from Europe.

Taraji was in Monaco earlier this week.

In her post she said, "I AM FINE!!!!!! Just need to SAT ALL THE WAY DOWN for a bit. #listentoyourbody"

Can't keep a good Cookie down.

Cookie better watch her back ... "Empire" creator Lee Daniels has got another diva in mind for the hit series – Diana Ross.

Daniels chatted up our photog outside Craig’s in West Hollywood, and while Taraji P. Henson got a 10 for her rump shaking gone viral … talk of Ross for the new season got Daniels so flustered he forgot to pay for parking.

It was like one-stop shopping Friday night at The Grove ... you could get a soft pretzel, check out the creepy dolls at American Girl, and watch a concert courtesy of the fine folks at "Empire."

Jussie Smollett, aka Jamal, Bryshere Gray, aka Hakeem, and others performed for the cheering crowd.

Before the concert, the audience got to see an episode under the stars, and then got to ask the cast members questions.

Tyrese Gibson thinks Terrence Howard has been a good opening act, but it's time for the headliner -- Tyrese himself -- to join "Empire" and reunite with Taraji P. Henson.

Tyrese told our photog what he thought of Henson -- aka Cookie Lyon -- saying it would "break the Internet" if he joined the ever-growing list of guest stars for Season 2. Sounds like he's more than interested.

Gibson and Henson definitely have a hot history -- they met on the set of "Baby Boy" back in 2001 and then sparks flew off set. Check out Tyrese's take on a possible reunion ... think black 'Notebook.'

A friend of the Jackson family is suing Terrence Howard, Lee Daniels, "Empire" and others, claiming the hit show is a carbon copy of his film about his life as a "gangster, pimp and drug dealer."

Ron Newt, who describes himself as a "known ghetto player" claims he met with Terrence at the Four Seasons hotel a while back and they discussed Ron's documentary, "Bigger than Big." Ron says Terrence connected to it, and said he wanted to play him in the film.

Fast forward to January, when "Empire" debuted to huge ratings. Ron says the similarities are more than suspicious.

-- "Empire" ... 4 drug dealers killed. "Bigger than Big" script: 4 drug dealers were killed.

-- "Empire" ... Lucious shot his long-time friend. BTB: Prince shoots his friend.

-- "Empire" has a roundtable. BTB: Roundtable!

-- "Empire" ... Cookie goes to jail for drugs. BTB: China Doll goes to jail for drugs.

-- "Empire" ... Cookie is released from prison. BTB: China Doll released from the big house.

-- "Empire" ... Cookie with hat. BTB: China Doll with hat.

Ron has a colorful history. He says in 1989 he signed a multi-million dollar deal with MCA, and also deals with Michael Jackson's family and Death Row Records.

As for the "Empire" lawsuit ... he wants a billion dollars.

"Empire" will have a ton of big stars on Season 2, but there's someone who's about to be approached that will up the ante even higher.

Brian Grazer was out and about in NYC Wednesday when our photog fired off some names. It seems like Oprah's in the bag. There are rumors producers are going after Eminem and Mariah Carey ... both of whom would be awesome.

Taraji P. Henson declared it for everyone in Hollywood to hear -- Courtney Love is her "bitch" ... after working with her on "Empire." It's the latest sign Courtney is getting super tight with ... the “community.”

Yes, we mean black people.

Taraji P. Henson may have let the cat out of the bag Thursday night, telling Courtney Love she's coming back to reprise her role on "Empire."

The 2 women couldn't hide their affection for each other, although Courtney made it clear what's gonna happen to her when Cookie has her way.

A couple of things about the video.

-- These 2 chicks genuinely dig each other

-- Courtney has it together

"Empire" co-creator Danny Strong is banking on his show going the distance -- he just scored a sweet new WeHo condo to keep him closer to his J-O-B.

Our sources say Danny is only in town part-time when he's churning out the hit FOX drama -- and needed something a little cozier than a hotel ... so he scooped up the modest new crib.

The docs show Danny only dropped $660k on the 1-bed/1-bath pad. Sure, it's only 1177 sq. ft., but it's his 1177 sq. ft.! Plus, it's a stone's throw from the action at Chateau Marmont and the Sunset Strip.

Terrence Howard is preparing to do battle with ex-wife Michelle ... trying to put a quick end to her spousal support because she allegedly blackmailed him with pics and videos he feared would ruin his career.

Sources familiar with the case tell TMZ ... Terrence will likely make a formal legal claim in April, alleging he gave Michelle a ridiculously rich spousal support deal because she was threatening him with various photos and videos.

We're told one of the pics shows Terrence in the shower, but there are many others.

The "Empire" star and lawyer Brian Kramer claim all Michelle was really entitled to was half-a-year's worth of spousal support, since the marriage lasted 1 year and the standard is to limit such support to half the time of the marriage. She got 5 years worth of support, which he says is evidence of blackmail.

We contacted Michelle's people ... so far no response.