Empire star Jussie Smollett is pictured in the hospital after a racist and homophobic attack on January 29

Jussie Smollett has gone back to work on the set of 'Empire', a week after he was hospitalized following a brutal attack that police are investigating as a racist and homophobic hate crime.

A production source on the Fox drama series told TMZ that Smollett returned to Chicago on Sunday following his weekend show in Los Angeles, where he told fans he 'had to be here tonight' and 'couldn't let those [expletive] win'.

With security present the whole time, Smollett reportedly joined cast members shooting scenes for one of the final episodes of the season on Monday and completed a read-through on Tuesday.

Detectives investigating the case are keen to speak to the 35-year-old actor again now that he is back in town, according to TMZ.

The attack took place on January 29 at around 2am, soon after Smollett had left a Subway restaurant and was heading back towards his apartment. He is believed to be staying in the same complex while he is in Chicago.

Jussie Smollet portrays gay musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama series 'Empire'. He has returned to work in Chicago a week after being assaulted in a horrific homophobic and racist attack

Jussie Smollett is seen leaving from the back of the Troubador in Los Angeles after his concert, the actor's first public appearance since the gruesome incident a week ago

Smollett performed to a sold-out show at the Troubador in Los Angeles on Saturday night (shown)

On Monday, authorities said they have found further surveillance footage from the the time leading up to and after the incident, in which the actor was brutally beaten and a noose was put around his neck.

Police have not released the video and TMZ reports that it contains neither attack itself nor the assailants fleeing the scene.

The incident has shocked America for its allegedly racist and homophobic motives.

Smollett told police the two male attackers got his attention by calling him 'Empire f****t n*****' then battered him 'about the face' and 'poured an unknown chemical substance on him.'

One of the men, described as a 'primary aggressor' was wearing a black mask, he told them.

Smollett's manager, Brandon Z. Moore, previously said that he was on the phone to him when the incident happened and that he heard the attackers shouting 'This is MAGA country!'.

These are of two people of interest who were in area at the time of the attack but police have not been able to identify them or even determine if they are homeless

The attacks are believed to be premeditated as Smollett received a cut out letter, that appears to be dated from January 18, containing a racist and homophobic threat. Fox Studio received the letter on the 22nd and cops said it was laced with powder Tylenol

The photos show two men walking on North New Street (depicted above) near East Illinois Street around 1.45am on Tuesday. Smollett told police that he was walking alone down East North Water Street in the 300-block around 2am when the two men approached him

President Trump condemned the attack last week, saying: 'That I can tell you is horrible. I've seen it ... last night. It doesn't get worse, as far as I'm concerned.'

A police incident report confirmed that Smollett had also told authorities he received homophobic hate mail in the week prior to the alleged hate crime.

It was sent to the studio where he films Empire and is said to have terrified staff.

Although he played the sold-out show at the famous Troubador in Los Angeles over the weekend, Smollett cancelled a follow-up a meet-and-greet session because of the incident.