The questions Fox must now wrestle with include deciding what to do about Mr. Smollett’s character and weighing the potential blowback if they keep him on the show. There are still two episodes left to be shot over the next month for the show’s fifth season, according to the person involved with the show. When Mr. Smollett returned to work on Thursday he was prepared to film scenes from the season’s second-to-last episode, the person said. It is still an open question whether Fox will use the footage when the episodes ultimately air.

“Empire” has not yet been renewed for a sixth season, so its ultimate fate still hangs in the balance.

For four years, Mr. Smollett has played Jamal Lyon, the openly gay middle child of a hip-hop dynasty. Though the show is far from the monster hit it was when it made its debut in 2015, it still draws 7.1 million viewers a week and Mr. Smollett’s character has been a fan favorite. “Empire” is also one of Fox’s highest rated shows and is in 10th place among all network entertainment shows, on par with ABC’s “The Bachelor,” according to Nielsen.

As recently as Wednesday, Fox had praised Mr. Smollett as a “consummate professional” and insisted he was not being written off the show. But the network was more muted on Thursday.

“We understand the seriousness of this matter and we respect the legal process,” Fox said in a statement after the arrest. “We are evaluating the situation and we are considering our options.”