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Benjamin Bratt Talks New FOX Series 'Star' and How It Compares To 'Empire'

Star Pilot BenjaminBratt interview

Lee Daniels, the co-creator of Empire, brings us another family drama centered around music and fame with Star starring Queen Latifah, Benjamin Bratt, Lenny Kravitz, and newcomers Jude Demorest as Star, Brittany O’Grady as Simone, Ryan Destiny as Alexandra and Amiyah Scott as Cotton. Benjamim Bratt says the show has a similar DNA to Empire, but Star is a different show.

Benjamin Bratt stars as Jahil Rivera, a seedy down-on-his-luck talent agent looking to revitalize his career. His next meal ticket are a trio of young women looking for fame as music superstars. Star (newcomer Jude Demorest), a tough-as-nails young woman who came up in the foster care system, tracks down her sister, Simone (newcomer Brittany O’Grady), and her Instagram bestie, Alexandra (newcomer Ryan Destiny) escape their situations and travel to Atlanta for stardom. Queen Latifah stars as Carlotta, a surrogate mother to the young girls.  

Benjamin Bratt knows a thing or two about struggling in the entertainment industy, but he says the music industry is much tougher. 

"The music industry is by far more cutthroat. Thus making it a perfect setting for a show like this."

Unlike Empire, Star is a lot less flashy and outrageous with its gritty potrayal of life on the streets, but a running theme between both shows is the examination of a dysfunctional family albeit not one related by blood in Star.  Bratt reveals Star is a much more personal show from executive producer Lee Daniels.

FOX's Star

In Star, Daniels doesn't shy away from hot button issues such as foster care, rape, racism and transgender issues. Lee is not afraid to tackle those issues as a springboard into the narrrative of the show, says Bratt. The show is also a commentary on how far you're willing to go for your ambition.

"I think this show is as much an exploration of the overwhelming ambition it takes to become famous as it is an indictiment of it."

FOX's new show may not be for everybody, Bratt tells CineMovie. Star is a much more darker and grittier tale of life on the streets, and how far you're willing to go to attain stardom.

Star returns January 4 on FOX at 9pm/8pm C, but the pilot episode is available to watch now at FOX.com.

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