EXCLUSIVE: Eli Roth’s thriller/horror series Hemlock Grove has received a second-season renewal by Netflix. Seasoned showrunner Charles H. (Chic) Eglee (The Walking Dead, Dexter) is joining the series, which will return with 10 original episodes next year. Based on Brian McGreevy’s gothic horror novel of the same name, Hemlock Grove, produced by Gaumont International Television, stars Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgård and explores the strange happenings in a small Pennsylvania town. The series launched its entire 13-episode first season on April 19 to mixed reviews but strong interest from viewers, with Netflix announcing at that time that the series was “viewed by more members globally in its first weekend than was House Of Cards and has been a particular hit among young adults.” Hemlock Grove‘s popularity with the the younger set helped the show land a second-season renewal just as the options on the actors were set to expire. “The worldwide fan response to Hemlock Grove was phenomenal” said executive producer Roth. “Netflix members loved the potent combination of sexy monsters, mystery, and the dark family soap opera that ended with a huge twist, leaving audiences worldwide totally shocked. Season One was just a warm up for what we have in store for season two. Get ready to be scared in ways you never expected.” Landon Liboiron, Freya Tingley and Dougray Scott co-star on the series, which will begin production on Season 2 later this year.

Hemlock Grove was developed by McGreevy and his writing partner Lee Shipman, and the two ran the first season with Mark Verheiden. Verheiden and another writing exec producer, Deran Sarafian, are leaving the show, with Eglee joining executive producers Roth, McGreevy, Shipman, Eric Newman and Michael Connolly in Season 2. “In its first season, Eli, Brian, Lee and the team did an incredible job of introducing viewers to a unique world of memorable characters,” said Cindy Holland, VP of Original Content at Netflix. “Chic’s addition to the show, and his experience on such fan favorites as The Shield, The Walking Dead and Dexter,” will heighten the intensity of the mystery that grips Hemlock Grove.”

This marks the second renewal for GIT this month as the company has gone 2-for-2 with its first two original series, Hemlock Grove and NBC’s Hannibal, both going to a second season. Netflix also is going 2-for-2, with its first two home-grown original series, House Of Cards and Helmock Grove both getting a second season. (House Of Cards had a two-season pickup.) The streaming company also has expressed interest at another installment of Arrested Development. Its latest series, Orange Is The New Black, premieres July 11.

