The Season 2 debut of TNT‘s sci-fi drama series Falling Skies last month faced competition from the NBA Finals and drew 4.5 million viewers, down 24% from its series debut, which was cable’s No. 1 series launch last year in the adults 18-49 demo. But there was little doubt that the series from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg wouldn’t earn a third-season pickup — it also has been a success in the 115 overseas markets where it has launched. Ten episodes have been ordered for Season 3, which are set to air in 2013. The renewal comes just in time for Comic-Con this week: TNT is bringing the series’ stars — Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton and others, along with executive producer Remi Aubuchon — to San Diego for a session tomorrow.

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The series, which chronicles the aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated, airs on Sundays and ranks No. 1 in the demo among cable’s summer dramas, averaging 5.9 million total viewers. “Falling Skies is television storytelling at its very best, a powerful drama that’s told on both an epic scale and on a deeply personal level,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “We can’t wait to see what DreamWorks Television and Falling Skies‘ terrific production team and cast members have in store for Season 3.”