Lorena Blas

USA TODAY

Seth MacFarlane's sci-fi adventure odyssey, The Orville, will continue its journey on Fox for a second season.

The renewal, the first for a new fall network series, marks a vote of confidence for MacFarlane, who has made Fox and its sibling studio millions as the creator of long-running Family Guy and other shows. (NBC also has ordered a second season of its Will & Grace revival).

He created and stars in the series, a variation on Star Trek, as Capt. Ed Mercer, exploring new worlds in space 400 years in the future. Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights) plays Kelly Grayson, Mercer's ex-wife and second in command.

Much like the crew of Star Trek's USS Enterprise, Ed and his officers travel to new destinations and encounter different alien races and adventures.

“Once again Seth has struck a powerful chord with viewers,” said Fox's entertainment president Michael Thorn. “He has delivered a series full of optimism, drama and his trademark humor. We want to thank him and the rest of the talented cast, as well as the producers and crew, for an incredible first season. We can’t wait to see where The Orville travels in the second.”

MORE: USA TODAY's review of 'The Orville'

Orville's early premiere, on Sept. 10, was Fox's most-watched since the 2015 debut of Empire, with streaming counted.



