EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

CINEMAX has confirmed that BANSHEE will return for its ten-episode third season FRIDAY, JAN. 9, at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT). The Emmy(R)-winning series is executive produced by Jonathan Tropper, Peter Macdissi, Alan Ball and Greg Yaitanes.

The show stars Antony Starr ("Wish You Were Here") as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., where he continues his criminal pursuits while enforcing his own code of justice.

Other returning cast regulars include: Ivana Milicevic ("Psych," "Vegas") as Carrie Hopewell, a notorious jewel thief who lives in Banshee under an assumed identity with her family, who have recently learned of her criminal past; Ulrich Thomsen ("The Celebration") as Kai Proctor, an intimidating, wealthy businessman who believes he is above the law; 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; and Hoon Lee ("The Blacklist") as Job, a dangerous transvestite computer hacker who assists Lucas and Carrie in their criminal enterprises.

Returning cast regulars also include: Rus Blackwell (HBO's "Recount"), Matt Servitto (HBO's "The Sopranos"), Trieste Kelly Dunn ("Brothers and Sisters"), Ryann Shane ("Blue Bloods"), Lili Simmons (HBO's "True Detective"), Odette Annable ("House M.D.,"), Geno Segers ("Teen Wolf"), Langley Kirkwood ("Black Sails") and Afton Williamson ("Nashville").

BANSHEE was created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler; executive producers, Alan Ball, Greg Yaitanes, Jonathan Tropper, Peter Macdissi; producer, Robert F. Phillips.

Scripts were written by Jonathan Tropper, Halley Gross, Justin Britt-Gibson, Adam Targum, Christopher Kelley, Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner. Directors for the new season include Greg Yaitanes, Loni Peristere, Magnus Martens and OC Madsen.