Sources close to the production told Variety producers are weighing whether to suspend the actor after he was charged on Wednesday in Chicago with disorderly conduct and filing a false police report.

A spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television declined to comment.

On January 29, Smollett told police that he was attacked by two men who poured an unknown chemical on him, put a rope around his neck, and used racial and homophobic slurs. Local Chicago media reported the brothers told detectives that Smollett had paid them to stage the attack.

According to the Cook County State Attorney's office, Smollett is due to appear in court for a bond hearing at 1:30pm Thursday.

Smollett is also scheduled to work Thursday on the Chicago set of "Empire." According to a production source, as of Wednesday night there were no plans to change the show's shooting schedule.

Fox had previously stood by Smollett, issuing two statements of support over the course of the investigation.

Australian Associated Press