EMMY(R)-WINNING SERIES "BANSHEE" RETURNS FOR SECOND SEASON JAN. 10, EXCLUSIVELY ON CINEMAX

NEW YORK, Oct. 17, 2013 - BANSHEE returns for its ten-episode second season FRIDAY, JAN. 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), it was announced today by CINEMAX. The Emmy(R)-winning series is executive produced by Alan Ball, Peter Macdissi, Jonathan Tropper, David Schickler and Greg Yaitanes.

The series stars Antony Starr ("Rush") as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., where he continues his criminal activities, even as he's being hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier. Other returning cast regulars include Ivana Milicevic (HBO's "The Mind of the Married Man," "Charlie's Angels") as Carrie Hopewell, a notorious jewel thief who now lives in Banshee under an assumed identity with her new family, who knows nothing of her past; Ulrich Thomsen ("The Celebration") as Kai Proctor, an intimidating, wealthy businessman who believes he is above the law; and Frankie Faison ("The Good Wife," HBO's "The Wire") as Sugar Bates, a powerful and wise former boxer and ex-con who is now the owner of the local watering hole.

Returning cast regulars also include Rus Blackwell ("Burn Notice," HBO's "Recount") as Banshee's district attorney, Gordon Hopewell, a Gulf War hero who is married to Carrie; Ryann Shane ("Blue Bloods") as Deva Hopewell, Carrie and Gordon's rebellious daughter; Ben Cross ("Star Trek," "Ben Hur") as Mr. Rabbit, a ruthless Ukrainian gangster who has been hunting Lucas and Carrie, his former top thieves, for 15 years; and Anthony Ruivivar ("Southland," "Third Watch") as Alex Longshadow, the son of Kinaho Tribe Chief Benjamin Longshadow. Odette Annable ("House M.D.," "Cloverfield") returns as Native American assassin Nola Longshadow.

New guest stars include Zeljko Ivanek ("Damages," "Seven Psychopaths," HBO's "True Blood") as Jim Racine, a chain-smoking, renegade FBI agent who has been tracking Rabbit for 15 years; Tatanka Means ("The Host," "Tiger Eyes") as Hoyt Rivers, head of security for Alex Longshadow; and Julian Sands ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "24"), as Rabbit's younger brother, a brilliant, devout and amoral Ukrainian priest who is just as dangerous.

BANSHEE is executive produced by Alan Ball (HBO's "True Blood" and the Emmy(R)-winning "Six Feet Under"), Greg Yaitanes (Emmy(R) winner for directing "House M.D."), Peter Macdissi ("Towelhead," HBO's "Six Feet Under"), Jonathan Tropper (author of the New York Times bestseller "This Is Where I Leave You") and David Schickler (author of "Kissing in Manhattan" and "Sweet and Vicious").

Scripts were written by Jonathan Tropper, David Schickler, Evan Dunsky ("Rectify"), John Romano ("Third Watch") and Doug Jung (HBO's "Big Love"). Directors this season include Greg Yaitanes, Ole Christian Madsen ("Edderkoppen," "Flame and Citron"), Babak Najafi ("Easy Money 2") and Loni Peristere ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer").

BANSHEE recently received a Primetime Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role.

The first season, which began in Jan. 2013, inspired critical raves, with the Hollywood Reporter calling it "taut, entertaining and smart," and the Wall Street Journal describing the show as "enticing" and "indisputably satisfying."

For more on the series, visit Cinemax.com/banshee, Facebook.com/Cinemax, Twitter.com @Cinemax #Banshee and Youtube.com/Cinemax.