“It is going to be hot.”
That’s what Rafael de la Fuente told us about his return to Empire for Season 2.
“There are a couple of really sexy scenes that the audience can definitely look forward to.”
As you may remember, de la Fuente debuted last season as Michael, an aspiring chef and the loving boyfriend of Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett).
But once Cookie returned from prison and Jamal’s star started to rise, the strain on their relationship became too much and they broke up.
Has the time away changed Michael?
“I would say he’s a little bit tougher and a little bit more sure—and less willing to comprise his views,” said de la Fuente, who was in New York for Empire’s East Coast premiere at Carnegie Hall.
He added that Michael’s toughness will show viewers a different dynamic between the ex-lovers: “People change, especially when they are thrown into a place of power like Jamal has been,” he explained.
“Jamal is the head of Empire Records now and it’s changed him a little bit as it would and I think it’s going to be really interesting. I think the audience is really going to like the new dynamic between Jamal and Michael.”
Another difference we’ll be seeing in Michael is more cosmetic: De la Fuente has let his hair grow out.
“I wanted to look a little bit different in the new season, just because I feel like the character feels different,” he explained.
“You know how you go through a breakup and you want to shake it up a bit? You might get a haircut or let your hair grow out. You want to feel different and evolve. I wanted that for Michael.”
With Cookie at odds with Jamal as Season 2 begins, will Michael be caught in the middle?
“He loves [Cookie’s] sass and her attitude, but since Jamal and Cookie are not on the greatest of terms right now, he’s going to gravitate to Jamal’s side.”
De la Fuente revealed he knew all along that his departure from Empire wouldn’t be permanent.
“Lee [Daniels] called me when I shot my last scene in Season One, and he said, ‘You’re not written off. You’re coming back.’ So I knew.”
“But it was great to get the call confirming that,” he adds.
Season 2 will also feature some major Hollywood names, including Chris Rock, Kelly Rowland, Pitbull and Mariah Carey.
“I’ve been having so much fun,” De la Fuente beams of going back to work. “It’s the best cast on TV right now, in my opinion, and it’s just great to be around my friends again.”
We’ll have to wait until Season 2 starts to see just how close close Michael and Jamal will be this time around—though we do see them going in for a kiss in the Season 2 trailer, below—but De la Fuente says working with Jussie Smollett has been a blast.
“Jussie is one of my best friends—it’s so easy to work with him. We just laugh and have so much fun. We make fun of each other and we don’t take each other seriously,” he says.
“But when it’s time to work, we’re on. It’s a really good relationship and it’s just easy.”