EMPIRE: Marvin Gaye’s Son is Filing Suit

Marvin Gaye’s son is headed back to court, but he's not suing over music this time.

Marvin Gaye the Third says he had the idea for Empire first. The son of the late soul singer claims he registered a treatment on a show called Diamonds & Ballads, also known as Those Sons of Riches, with the Writers Guild back in 2010. 

In the treatment, Gaye describes a series about a family in the music business, pitching it as “a music based ‘black’ and ‘hip’ version of Dynasty with a little Sopranos.”

Gaye shopped his idea around, which was loosely based on the lives of his and Motown founder Berry Gordy’s family. He claims the same people he pitched his show turned around and gave it to Empire creator Lee Daniels. He thinks Daniels admitted as much when he publicly stated, “I wanted to make a black Dynasty” and compared his show to The Sopranos.

Gaye’s lawyer is planning to file suit against Daniels, Fox and others.