After six years away from the television spotlight and a whirlwind of legal controversy, Jussie Smollett is poised to make a dramatic return to prime time. The actor, best known for his role on Fox’s hit drama Empire, will join the cast of the network’s reality competition series, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, for its highly anticipated fourth season. According to Fox and reporting by NewsNation, the season is set to premiere on September 25, 2025, marking Smollett’s first major TV appearance since his abrupt exit from Empire in 2019.
The announcement, made public on August 8, 2025, has already generated a flurry of discussion in both entertainment circles and the broader public. Smollett’s journey back to television is anything but ordinary—his name has been synonymous with both stardom and scandal in recent years. The actor’s departure from Empire came after he alleged he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack outside his Chicago apartment in early 2019. However, as widely reported by NewsNation and others, investigators later determined that Smollett had staged the incident, resulting in his conviction on five counts of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.
The legal saga took yet another turn in 2024, when the Illinois Supreme Court overturned Smollett’s conviction, ruling that his due process rights had been violated by a second prosecution after the original charges were dropped in exchange for community service. The court’s decision vacated his conviction but notably did not rule on his guilt or innocence. Throughout the ordeal, Smollett has steadfastly maintained his innocence, even as public opinion has remained sharply divided.
Now, with the past still looming large, Smollett is stepping into an environment that promises to test more than just his physical endurance. Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test is renowned for its grueling format, which rips celebrities from the comfort of their usual routines and thrusts them into a military-style training gauntlet. The show’s premise is simple but punishing: participants are pushed to their absolute limits, both physically and mentally, under the watchful eyes of elite ex-special forces operatives. This season’s challenges are set to include extreme urban warfare scenarios, treacherous rat-runs through dark tunnels, and even the harrowing experience of plane shell submersion. As Fox describes it, the series is “a test unlike any other,” designed to reveal the “deepest and truest character” of its celebrity recruits.
Smollett will not be facing these trials alone. The Season 4 cast is a who’s who of reality TV, athletics, and entertainment. Among his fellow competitors are reality stars Kody Brown of Sister Wives, Brittany Cartwright of The Valley, and mother-daughter duo Gia and Teresa Giudice from The Real Housewives of New Jersey. The lineup also features actor Ravi V. Patel, known for Animal Control, and a host of athletes: Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East, U.S. women’s soccer legend Christie Pearce Rampone, former NBA player Nick Young, and ex-NFL stars Johnny Manziel, Randall Cobb, Eric Decker, and Andrew East.
Rounding out the cast are country music artist Jessie James Decker, model Chanel Iman, actress Eva Marcille, and internet personalities Mark Estes and Brianna LaPaglia. In total, 18 celebrities will compete in a simulated selection process modeled after the real-life trials faced by special forces recruits. It’s a setting designed to strip away fame and status, leaving only raw determination and resilience.
For Smollett, the stakes are high—not just in terms of the show’s punishing physical demands, but in the court of public opinion. His participation in Special Forces offers a rare, unscripted glimpse into his character at a time when many viewers remain skeptical or outright critical. The show’s format, which emphasizes survival and personal growth, could provide Smollett with a platform to demonstrate qualities such as perseverance, humility, and emotional strength—traits that have often been overshadowed by the headlines surrounding his legal battles.
Fox, for its part, appears eager to spotlight this element of redemption and second chances. The reality series’ official website notes, “Viewers see the recruits face the harshest of environments that simulate the highly classified selection process, pushing themselves in the ultimate test of their physical, mental and emotional resilience and revealing the celebrities’ deepest and truest character.” It’s a sentiment that resonates particularly strongly in Smollett’s case, given his recent history.
The network’s decision to cast Smollett is not without risk. Public reaction to his return has ranged from supportive to critical, reflecting the polarized opinions that have followed him since 2019. Some see his inclusion as an opportunity for redemption and personal growth, while others argue that it sends the wrong message about accountability and consequences. The legal system’s reversal of his conviction has only added to the complexity of the debate, leaving many to wonder whether Smollett’s story is one of injustice, privilege, or something in between.
Regardless of where one stands, there’s no denying that Smollett’s participation in Special Forces will be closely watched. The show’s intense, no-holds-barred approach is likely to expose both strengths and vulnerabilities, offering viewers a side of Smollett that scripted television rarely allows. As the premiere date approaches, anticipation is building—not just for the physical feats and dramatic moments the show is known for, but for the broader question of whether Smollett can redefine his public image under such unforgiving scrutiny.
It’s a rare moment in reality television when the stakes feel genuinely high, both for the contestants and the audience. For Jussie Smollett, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test represents more than just a return to the screen; it’s a test of endurance, character, and perhaps, a shot at redemption. Whether he succeeds or stumbles, viewers are sure to be watching closely when the new season debuts on September 25.