The Empire is expanding.

At the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills on Thursday, exec producer Lee Daniels announced, in no uncertain terms, that the Empire franchise will expand via an offshoot.

“There is going to be a spinoff from Empire, without question,” he said. “There’s so much ripe story that we’ve talked about already— about Cookie’s family, what makes her her. That in itself is fascinating to me.”

Following the panel, Daniels elaborated that the spin-off would be a quasi-prequel that delves into Cookie’s upbringing in North Philadelphia. “Here Cookie is now, but how did she get to where she’s at right now?” he shared. “Let’s go back and understand her mother, her sisters…. Let’s understand the makings of her… It’d be like a prequel.”

Thoughts? Young Cookie casting suggestions? Hit the comments!