Ilene Chaiken will continue ruling her “Empire” — so to speak. The showrunner of the Lee Daniels-created soap opera has extended her contract with 20th Century Fox Television. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chaiken will keep running “Empire” while developing original projects for Fox under the multiyear deal.
“Ilene has done an extraordinary job running ‘Empire,’ which is not only the №1 drama on our air, but one of the most creatively ambitious and wildly entertaining series on any network,” stated Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Fox Television Group chairmen and CEOs. “She’s a talented writer who somehow manages to walk the tightrope of being both a great leader and a team player simultaneously.”
Chaiken is best known as the creator of “The L Word,” Showtime’s pioneering drama about a tight-knit group of lesbians in Los Angeles. She served as executive producer on the series, which aired from 2004 to 2009, and wrote many of its scripts. Chaiken helmed several “L Word” eps as well.
The GLAAD Media Awards honored Chaiken with the Davidson/Valentini prize in 2008 for her work on “The L Word.”
Chaiken penned the original script for “The Handmaid’s Tale” for Showtime. The adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel ended up going to Hulu, and Bruce Miller rewrote the script and took on showrunning duties. Chaiken is still credited as an executive producer on the critically-acclaimed feminist series but is not directly involved in its creative development.
Reality show “The Real L Word: Los Angeles,” Showtime doc “L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin,” and ABC drama“Black Box” are among Chaiken’s other credits.
Season 4 of “Empire” will air Wednesdays this fall on Fox.
