'Empire' Season 3 Spoilers: Rapper Xzibit Lands Series Regular Role

Viewers will see more of Lucious' (Terrence Howard) rival Shyne Johnson on Season 3 of "Empire" this fall. The character is portrayed by rapper Xzibit, and according to TV Line, has been promoted to series regular. Xzibit made his debut as Lucious' drug-dealing, music making adversary in the Season 2 finale, "Past Is Prologue."

Last month, the "Empire" showrunner Ilene Chaiken talked Xzibit's character revealing Shyne will be "a central character" in Lucious' storyline. Chaiken also told EW.com that Shyne is not necessarily a bad guy.

"Shyne isn’t necessarily an adversary, although I think he could become an adversary," said Chaiken. "Lucious has a long history with him — history that’s going to come back and bite Lucious for a lot of earlier slights. If you have a guy who’s not afraid to die, not afraid to go to prison, that’s a very dangerous adversary."

Meanwhile, we will see the appearance of a young Cookie and Lucious. According to Fansided, the Fox musical drama is on the search to cast a teenage versions of Cookie and Lucious to appear in flashbacks.

This new information suggests that the series will spend a lot of time diving into Cookie and Lucious' background in the coming season. The characters' origin stories may finally be told and viewers could get to see how the couple meet, fall in love, get married and welcome their three sons.

Furthermore, in an interview with TV Guide, "Empire" executive producer Sanna Hamri revealed what Anika (Grace Gealey) will face in Season 3.

Hamri shared how Anika definitely still had feelings for Lucious, even after their relationship ended badly. Hamri explained how Anika has just been "trying to preserve herself, just like everyone else."

"Anika is in so much trouble. And that is what’s tragic about parts of her characters is. She has to go to such lengths to preserve herself," Hamri said.

Plus, the executive producer hinted at who would survive in the intense battle between Anika and Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday). Previously, Chaiken teased how "only one will survive the fight." and Hamri dropped a huge clue saying it was Anika who survives the fight, and leaves Rhonda dead.

"Empire" returns for its third season this fall on Wednesday, Sept. 21.