It’s no secret that “Empire” is crazy for high-wattage guest stars — and the Fox hip-hop drama’s latest is an Oscar-winning actress. Nicole Kidman, who previously collaborated with show creator Lee Daniels on the indie film “The Paperboy,” is headed to the fictional Lyons Den.
Daniels interviewed Kidman for the October issue of, well, Interview magazine, and let it slip that she’ll soon be playing alongside Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard.
“I want you on my set,” Daniels told Kidman, currently headlining the play “Photograph 51” on London’s West End.
“You promised me I would be there one day,” said Kidman. The director responded simply, “I can’t wait.”
It’s unknown if Kidman will grace the series this season, one heavy with drop-ins including Chris Rock, Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, Marisa Tomei, Pitbull and Funkmaster Flex.
Whatever role they find for her, expect Daniels to make room for plenty of mischief.
“Whenever I’m with you, I get this energy like we’re being naughty. And naughty is controversial and will uncover something new that hasn’t been seen yet, a new personality trait,” Daniels said of Kidman in the issue, part of a 60-page portfolio titled “In the Air” with photographs from Fabien Baron.
“I think you bring that out in pretty much everyone you work with,” she said.
“I don’t know. You in particular,” he said. “You get this devilish look in your eye, like, ‘Uh-oh, what are we doing now?’ Working with you, I understood what it must have been like to work with someone like Bette Davis. There’s a serenity about you.”