Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail is stepping up his commitment to auterism by directing every episode of Mr. Robot's upcoming second season. Variety is reporting on the commitment as the show's writers reconvene in Los Angeles to begin work on another batch of 10 episodes. The paranoid hacker thriller became a surprise summer hit for USA Network, one the network renewed before its premiere even had a chance to air. Esmail won plenty of praise for the show's unique feel and the strength of its vision, qualities that were apparent even though he didn't have a credited hand in every episode. (He directed three of the first season's episodes and wrote five.)

Esmail won't be the only creator to direct a full season of a TV show, though it's admittedly rare; the indefatigable Steven Soderbergh has directed two full seasons of his gory Cinemax surgery drama The Knick, and Cary Fukunaga directed the entirety of True Detective's first season. When added onto all of the other duties (both creative and managerial) with which a showrunner is tasked, the workload is intimidating. It's exciting to imagine the impact Esmail can have as a visual stylist when he's given an entire season of his show as a canvas. "You have to find voices that are relevant and great storytellers and have such a specific vision," said USA Network president Chris McCumber to Variety. "In Sam, we have found that."

Mr. Robot's second season doesn't have a premiere date yet, but it should return to USA Network by summer 2016.

Disclosure: NBC Universal, owner of USA Network, is an investor in Vox Media, The Verge’s parent company. Additionally, we are an independent editorial partner in the Mr. Robot Digital After Show hosted by The Verge.