Jussie Smollett, center, arrives at the Leighton Criminal Court Building for his hearing on Thursday, 14 March 2019, in Chicago.

Empire actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges that he falsely report to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago's downtown area on 29 January.

His attorney Tina Glandian entered the plea on his behalf during a court hearing in the morning.

Judge Steven Watkins has been assigned to oversee Smollett's case, including the trial.

The next court date has been scheduled for 17 April.

Prosecutors allege that the actor hired two friends to help stage an attack on him in downtown Chicago early on the morning of 29 January.

Police say Smollett told detectives that two masked men beat him while hurling racist and homophobic slurs, and that they poured an unknown substance on him and hung a noose around his neck before fleeing.

Smollett, 36, has denied staging the attack and maintains his innocence.

A grand jury in Chicago previously indicted him on 16 felony counts, which his attorneys have called “prosecutorial overkill”.