It's safe to say Fox's Empire is one of the biggest new shows of this winter, but lead actress Taraji P. Henson, who plays Cookie, has revealed that she almost didn't play opposite Terrence Howard, who portrays her ex-husband Lucious Lyon.

WATCH: Diddy's Family Possibly Real Life 'Empire', Son Quincy Says 'Kind Of Like Our Family'

During the 2015 Winter TCA Press Tour recently, Henson confessed that director and creator Lee Daniels (who also spearheaded The Butler) originally wanted Wesley Snipes to have the role. But Henson wasn't having it.

"I was like, 'Lee, this is an incredible project. I think Cookie is amazing. I would love to play her. If you can get Terrence, I'm all about it. If not, good luck with the project!'"

WATCH: Battle Between Lucious & Cookie 'Heats Up' After He Favors Hakeem Over Jamal

Interestingly enough, Daniels added that Henson was not officially signed on to play Cookie at the time.

"Taraji says, 'I really want to do this role with Terrence Howard,' and I was like 'You ain't got the job yet.' And then, I was like 'Danny [Strong], that's Cookie!'"

He said that he was a little uncomfortable taking on the role of a father who shuns his homosexual son, Jamal. In a flashback scene in the pilot episode, Lucious puts 5-year-old Jamal in a trash can after he struts into the living room wearing Cookie's heels and scarf.

"Lee Daniels was that little boy and his father put him in the trash can," Howard said.

"Watching Lee while we were shooting this - at one point, he had to back away because he was in tears, because he was facing it. His mother was also there on set. It was cathartic for Lee.

"Lee would not allow me to show compassion in the scene."

Empire has been given the green light for season 2. Its pilot got Fox the highest rated series premiere the network has received in three years.

Check out the teaser for the newest episode below.

Empire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Fox.

Tags: Empire Show television fox