Man claims Lee Daniels stole ‘Empire’ idea, sues for $500 million

Philly native Lee Daniels has already been sued several times over his hit show Empire, but now another lawsuit is seeking $500 million in damages.

One Jon Astor-White has filed a lawsuit against Daniels and co-creator Danny Strong, with TMZ reporting that he had showed off a similar show dubbed King Solomon back in 2007 in an attempt to get it produced.

Imagine Entertainment and 21st Century Fox were also reportedly named in the suit.

The show would have starred Richard Roundtree — John Shaft of Shaft himself — and revolved around a record executive's family battle for control over the company. Roundtree ultimately declined the project.

Other proposed stars included Alicia Keys, Kanye West, John Goodman, George Hamilton, and Angie Dickinson.

Interestingly, Astor-White also described the show a mixture between Dynasty, The Sopranos, and The Godfather  — which, as TMZ notes, is similar to how Marvin Gaye III described the show involved in his proposed suit against Daniels earlier this month. Gaye, however, ultimately declined to file a lawsuit.

Two other people have, however, sued Daniels and co. over Empire, including a woman who claims she is the real Cookie Lyon, as well as "known ghetto player" Ron Newt, who filed his bizarre, $1 billion lawsuit back in April.

Most recently, Empire was named program of the year by the Television Critics Association.

[TMZ]