TV News: TNT’s ANIMAL KINGDOM & CLAWS Renewed; Cinemax’s OUTCAST returns July 20, 2018

Animal Kingdom and Claws Renewed; Outcast returns in July

Animal Kingdom has been renewed for a fourth season and Claws has been renewed for a third season by TNT. Outcast’s second season premiere date has been set by Cinemax.

Animal Kingdom and Claws

The renewal of Animal Kingdom and Claws was no surprise. Animal Kingdom‘s audience has grown by leaps and bounds (think Vikings). Statistically speaking, both shows have consistently gained new viewers.

The official statistics for Animal Kingdom and Claws:

Animal Kingdom two-night season three launch combining 4.3 million Total Viewers and the season two premiere of Claws garnering 1.3 million in the 18-49 demo, +38% higher than last year’s series debut.

Animal Kingdom: Season 3’s plot synopsis: “In last season’s shocking cliffhanger, Baz (Speedman) was shot while on his way to Mexico after framing Smurf (Barkin) for murder. Season three opens with Smurf in jail and her grandson J (Cole) in charge of the family business. The Cody men find themselves increasingly divided as they fight for both control and their independence, but have to come together when outside threats emerge. Deran’s (Weary) drifter dad Billy (Leary) comes back to make amends but may have other motives.”

Animal Kingdom: Season 3 stars Gil Birmingham, Dichen Lachman, Ellen Barkin, Denis Leary, Scott Speedman, Shawn Hatosy, Ben Robson, Jake Weary, Finn Cole,  Molly Gordon, and Carolina Guerra.

Claws: Season 2’s plot synopsis: “Last season saw Desna (Nash) trade one crime boss for another as the Russian mob took control of both the pain clinic and the salon. With new management comes new problems for the women to handle.”

Claws: Season 2 stars Niecy Nash, Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes, Karrueche Tran, Jenn Lyon, Jack Kesy, Kevin Rankin, Jason Antoon, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Suleka Mathew, Harold Perrineau, and Dean Norris.

Outcast

The second season of Outcast, which has already aired in some international territories, will begin airing on Cinemax on July 20, 2018.

Official press release with Outcast: Season 2

Plagued by demons since childhood, Kyle is on a journey to find answers – but what he uncovers could mean the end of life as we know it.

The suspense-horror series OUTCAST returns for its ten-episode second season FRIDAY, JULY 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on CINEMAX. Continuing to probe the mystery of what lies behind the town of Rome’s supernatural manifestations, and why they are drawn to Kyle, the show explores how people cope with extreme circumstances while protecting the ones they love. OUTCAST is created and executive produced by Robert Kirkman (“The Walking Dead”) and based on the Skybound/Image comic title by creator Robert Kirkman and artist Paul Azaceta.

Patrick Fugit (“Gone Girl,” HBO’s “Cinema Verité”) stars as Kyle Barnes, a young man who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life. With the help of Reverend Anderson, played by Philip Glenister (“Kingdom of Heaven”), a preacher who believes he is a soldier in God’s holy war against the forces of evil, Kyle tries to protect those he holds most dear, now that the otherworldly threats prove greater in scope and number than anticipated. His struggle will grow into a fight for all of his hometown, as he discovers the haunting secrets of his own past.

Other cast members in the second season include: Wrenn Schmidt (“The Looming Tower,” HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”) as Kyle’s adopted sister, Megan Holter, a child psychologist who makes it her mission to fix the people around her; Reg E. Cathey (HBO’s “The Wire”) as Chief Giles, Rome’s chief of police, who has seen enough to know there’s some truth to his friend Rev. Anderson’s assertions about demons; Kate Lyn Sheil (“House of Cards,” HBO’s “High Maintenance”) as Kyle’s former wife, Allison Barnes, who has lingering doubts about what happened in their marriage; Julia Crockett (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”) as Kyle’s mother, Sarah Barnes, whose apparent mental illness tainted his childhood; David Denman (“13 Hours”) as Megan’s husband, Mark Holter, a by-the-book small-town cop whose temper can get him in trouble; and Brent Spiner (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) as Sidney, whose dapper appearance and smiling demeanor hide malevolence.

Episodes include:

Episode #11 (season 2, episode 1): “Bad Penny”

Debut date: FRIDAY, JULY 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

After being confronted by the same dark forces plaguing Rome, Kyle (Patrick Fugit) returns to town with his daughter, Amber (Madeleine McGraw), to find a deeply shaken Megan (Wrenn Schmidt), who is stricken by flashbacks of her possession and its dire consequences. Reverend Anderson (Philip Glenister) offers to help Patricia (Melinda McGraw) find Aaron, her missing son, and gravitates to a fringe religious service in an abandoned barn. Giles (Reg E. Cathey) tries to convince Mayor Owen Boyd (Toby Huss) to institute a curfew after a newly possessed man evades his grasp. On the advice of Giles, Kyle and Anderson attempt to track down Sidney (Brent Spiner) through his known associates.

Written by Chris Black; directed by Tricia Brock.

Episode #12 (season 2, episode 2): “The Day After That”

Debut date: FRIDAY, JULY 27 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

After uncovering possible clues at the scene of a crime, Kyle (Patrick Fugit) visits his mom (Julia Crockett) in the hospital, where he gets an eerie feeling from her doctor. Disheartened by a confession to Patricia (Melinda McGraw), Anderson (Philip Glenister) ends up being an eyewitness to a possession. Giles (Reg E. Cathey) fends off criticism of his recently overzealous police tactics from Owen (Toby Huss). A distraught Megan (Wrenn Schmidt) seeks an end to her painful memories

Written by Adam Targum; directed by Loni Peristere.

Episode #13 (season 2, episode 3): “Not My Job to Judge”

Debut date: FRIDAY, AUG. 3 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Kyle (Patrick Fugit) and Amber (Madeleine McGraw) visit Allison (Kate Lyn Sheil) at the facility she’s checked herself into, where Amber encounters a creepy patient. Holly (Callie McClincy) rejects Megan’s (Wrenn Schmidt) attempts to return to normalcy. Sidney (Brent Spiner) poses a challenge to a new convert. Patricia (Melinda McGraw) confronts Giles (Reg E. Cathey) about his investigation of Aaron’s case. Anderson (Philip Glenister) and Kyle track down a mysterious figure behind a spate of Rome abductions.

Written by Jeff Vlaming; directed by Howard Deutch.

Episode #14 (season 2, episode 4): “The One I’d Been Waiting For”

Debut date: FRIDAY, AUG. 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Kyle (Patrick Fugit) and Anderson (Philip Glenister) learn more about the role Kyle’s father played in Rome’s history of possession. Anderson is taunted by an old foe, who recently resurfaced and is wreaking havoc in town. With nowhere to go, Megan (Wrenn Schmidt) takes Holly (Callie McClincy) to a familiar but forbidding place. Sidney (Brent Spiner) instructs an ally to keep Giles (Reg E. Cathey) in line.

Written by Rebecca Sonnenshine; directed by Alrick Riley.

The first season of OUTCAST was hailed as a “suspense-laden, psychological examination of inner shadows” by Variety, which praised Patrick Fugit’s “poignant portrayal.”

OUTCAST is based on the Skybound/Image comic title by creator Robert Kirkman and artist Paul Azaceta. The series is produced by FOX International Studios for CINEMAX; created and executive produced by Robert Kirkman; executive produced by showrunner Chris Black, David Alpert, Sharon Tal Yguado and Sue Naegle.

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