'Empire' creator Lee Daniels says Chris Rock's character is a cannibal

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Comedian Chris Rock guest-starred on the season 2 premiere of Empire Wednesday, playing a sinister character who secretly is a cannibal.

Rock plays Frank Gathers, a man whom main characters Cookie ---played by Taraji P. Henson--- and Lucious ---played by Terrence Howard--- worked for in the past during their drug business days. Viewers witness Gathers cut up some unidentifiable meat during an interrogation scene, unaware that originally, Rock was to be featured eating human flesh instead.

'[Series creator Lee Daniels] wanted him to be a cannibal, but I guess it was too much for Fox," makeup artist Karen Lynn Accattato explained to the Observer.

"During the filming for scenes with Chris, Lee Daniels had this inspiration...he wanted to take it to the next level,' Accattato continues. "On the makeup department, they told us, 'We want him to be eating this guy's flesh. Come up with some flesh.'"

She added, "We actually went to craft service, grabbed some steak and cut off the fat, and glued it on to the actor's skin. When Lee Daniels says he wants an effect, you have to get that effect."

During Wednesday's episode viewers were shocked to learned Gathers' dark side will not be furthered discussed as the character meets his untimely end after Lucious orders him killed.

Daniels also made headlines earlier this week Tuesday, when fellow actor Sean Penn filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against the Empire creator for alleging in an interview that he abuses women.

Empire airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.