Syfy is bringing back 12 Monkeys — but there's a catch.

The network has handed out a second-season renewal for the drama based on the movie of the same name, but series showrunner Natalie Chaidez will step down. The prolific producer will segue from the breakout series to showrun Syfy's upcoming Gale Anne Hurd drama Hunters, which she wrote. 12 Monkeys executive producers Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett (Nikita) — who created the Syfy show — will take over as showrunners on the series. Fellow exec producers Richard Suckle and Charles Roven (the latter of whom produced the original film) will stay on board as exec producers with Atlas' Jake Kurily producing.

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12 Monkeys, based on Universal's Terry Gilliam film and starring Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull, hails from Universal Cable Productions (like Hunters) and will return in 2016. The series continued to gain viewers with its March 6 episode, which attracted 1.5 million total, up 6 percent compared with the previous four weeks. Airing on Fridays, the sci-fi drama is also performing well with three days of delayed viewing (up 104 percent).

"We are absolutely committed to 12 Monkeys, and have been incredibly impressed by the outstanding critical and audience praise the series has earned," Syfy president Dave Howe said. "The talent both on- and offscreen has delivered a series that has us all on the edge of our seats, providing exactly the smart, exciting storytelling Syfy is known for."

12 Monkeys is part of Syfy's renewed push to focus on science fiction again. Its roster also includes mythology drama Olympus, previously renewed zombie drama Z Nation as well as the also-picked-up Dominion and Helix. Still on tap are Childhood's End, The Expanse, Hunters, due in 2016, and Dark Matter as well as minis 3001: The Final Odyssey and Spin.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com

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