"The Borgias," Showtime's historical drama about Rodrigo Borgia, also known as Pope Alexander VI, and his family during the Italian Renaissance in 1492, has been renewed for a second season.

The series, which stars Jeremy Irons as Borgia, premiered April 3. The creator and executive producer is Oscar-winning writer Neil Jordan ("The Crying Game").

Showtime has promoted the series with a reference to "The Sopranos," using the tagline, "the original crime family."

--Greg Braxton

Photo: Jeremy Irons in "The Borgias"

Credit: Mark Seliger / Showtime