Empire season 2: Diana Ross wanted by series creator to play diva mother

Oprah Winfrey is also thought to be on board to join the cast

Diana Ross is wanted by the Empire creator to join the drama's second series (Getty Images)

Empire’s hard-nosed Cookie needs to watch out - Diana Ross could be set to take her on in the next season of the hip hop drama.

Empire creator Lee Daniels said he wants to cast the music diva in the role of a mother in the next series of the show, which has been dubbed the "black Dynasty".

“I want Diana Ross, I’m obsessed with Diana Ross,” he said.

When asked if he wanted Ross for a mother role, he told TMZ: “I want Diana Ross for me. For my mother, for my woman, for my sister, for my everything. She is my everything.”

Oprah Winfrey is set to join the cast for Empire's second series (Getty Images)

Daniels hinted Oprah Winfrey will also join the cast for season two. “I hope so, you got to ask O,” he said when pushed on her reported appearance.

Empire was renewed for a second 18 episode series in January, which will premiere on 23 September on Fox in the US.

The drama, which has been likened to a modern day King Lear, follows the founding family members of a hip hop and music entertainment company called Empire Entertainment.

Diana Ross and Oprah Winfrey are likely to attract more fans to the show, which is said to already have Michelle Obama hooked.

Read more: Empire review - are British viewers ready for a 'black Dynasty meets King Lear'?