Casting ch-ch-changes are underway on the set of "Empire," prior to the September 21 third season premiere.
Rapper/actor Romeo Miller will replace rapper/actor Kid Cudi to portray a new character, who will serve as a rival for the Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Gray) character, as well as a possible love interest for Tiana Brown (Serayah McNeill).
During the early days of Miller's career, he went by the moniker Lil Romeo. He also starred on the Nickelodeon sitcom, "Romeo!" He is the son of Percy Miller, better known as rapper/entrepreneur and founder of No Limit Records, Master P.
Cudi left the show over "creative differences." Footage already shot featuring Kid Cudi will have to be discarded and re-shot with Miller.
"Empire" would have been Cudi's second TV show in as many years. In 2015, he joined the cast of the IFC sketch show "Comedy Bang Bang" for its fourth season, becoming the show's bandleader after Reggie Watts left to become the bandleader for James Corden on "The Late Late Show."
Cudi's final appearance on the show was the fourth season finale in December 2015.
Weird Al Yankovic replaced Kid Cudi for the show's fifth, and current, season. IFC recently announced this will be the show's final season. The final 10 episodes will air from October 28 through December 10.
