Rectify Renewed for Season 2 by Sundance

Sundance has announced that its first wholly owned original scripted series Rectify has been renewed for a second season. The drama, created by Oscar winner Ray McKinnon, will resume production later this year for its next 10 episodes, set to premiere sometime in 2014.

Sarah Barnett, Sundance Channel President and General Manager, stated, “The response to Rectify has been incredible. We feel as though this story has tapped into something truly unique, with both critics and audiences using their platforms to share such strong, personal reactions to this very distinctive TV series. There’s so much drama and character that’s been set up in the first season, it will be electrifying to see where Rectify goes in season two.”

Rectify stars Aden Young as Daniel Holden, a man who serves nearly 20 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerates him, thrusting him into a world that has changed in leaps and bounds since his incarceration. He’s got to figure out how to become more comfortable in modern society while keeping himself safe from a town that doesn’t believe he’s innocent and people who can’t help but stare when he walks by. The show also stars Abigail Spencer as Amantha, Daniel’s younger sister, who has devoted her adult life to proving his innocence; J. Smith Cameron as Janet Talbot, Daniel’s mother, who long ago had made peace with the loss of her son; Luke Kirby asof Jon Stern, Daniel’s lawyer who works for an organization dedicated to exonerating the wrongfully convicted; Clayne Crawford as Ted Talbot, Jr., Daniel’s stepbrother whom he had never previously met; Adelaide Clemens as Ted’s wife Tawney Talbot; and Jake Austin Walker as Daniel’s half-brother Jared.

Rectify airs Mondays at 10:00 on Sundance.

Have you been watching Rectify? Where do you think the show will take Daniel over an additional 10 episodes? Will the success of Rectify (and miniseries Top of the Lake) encourage Sundance to further immerse itself in original scripted content?