HBO DRAMA SERIES "THE LEFTOVERS" RETURNS FOR ITS SECOND SEASON OCT. 4; SERIES CREATED BY DAMON LINDELOF AND TOM PERROTTA; LINDELOF SERVES AS SHOWRUNNER

More than three years ago, 2% of the world's population inexplicably vanished. 140 million people, gone in an instant. No country, no state, no city was spared - except for one small town in eastern Texas. Population: 9261. Departures: Zero.

This is the setting for a tale of two families: the Garveys, whose lives were forever changed by The Departure, and have since moved to this special place, and the Murphys, a local family who seems to have been spared from an event that shook the rest of the world.

Created by Damon Lindelof (Emmy(R) winner for "Lost") and acclaimed novelist Tom Perrotta (Academy Award(R) nominee for "Little Children"; "Election"), the ten-episode second season of THE LEFTOVERS kicks off SUNDAY, OCT. 4 (9:00-10:05 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, followed by other episodes subsequent Sundays at the same time.

The cast of season two includes Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Carrie Coon, Ann Dowd, Margaret Qualley, Chris Zylka, Regina King, Kevin Carroll, Jovan Adepo and Janel Moloney.

After last season's elaborate Memorial Day initiative by the Guilty Remnant plunged Mapleton into chaos, season two of THE LEFTOVERS finds many searching for a fresh start. Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) has retired from his post as chief of police of Mapleton and is moving his new family to Texas. With him is Nora Durst (Carrie Coon), who's discovered new purpose in caring for the baby she found on Kevin's doorstep and welcomes leaving behind Mapleton and the incredible tragedy she suffered there. Kevin's daughter, Jill (Margaret Qualley), is equally eager to leave the town she grew up in and the friends she made there.

Upon their arrival in Jarden, Texas, the newly formed Garvey family meets their neighbors, the Murphys: John (Kevin Carroll) and Erika (Regina King) and their teenage twins, Evie (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Michael (Jovan Adepo). Attracted to this special town and hoping for miracles for his whole family, Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston) has moved with his wife, Mary (Janel Moloney), who still suffers from consequences of the terrible car accident on Oct. 14.

Meanwhile, Kevin's ex-wife, Laurie Garvey (Amy Brenneman), has left the Guilty Remnant and reunited with her son, Tom (Chris Zylka), who may have finally discovered a cause to help replace the pain in his heart. And while Meg (Liv Tyler) remains in the Guilty Remnant, it may not be the same cult she originally joined.

The first season of THE LEFTOVERS was based on Tom Perrotta's bestselling novel of the same name. In the second season, the show expands on the novel's original concept of The Rapture, continuing to explore the ways ordinary people react to inexplicable events.

September's episodes:

Episode #11 (season 2, episode 1): "Axis Mundi"

Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 4 (9:00-10:05 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 4 (11:35 p.m., 2:15 a.m.), 5 (2:50 a.m.), 6 (8:00 p.m., 2:20 a.m.), 7 (8:45 p.m.), 8 (11:50 p.m.), 9 (9:00 p.m.), 10 (9:45 p.m.) and 16 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 5 (8:30 p.m.), 7 (5:50 p.m.) and 11 (7:55 p.m.), and Nov. 27 (noon)

Jarden, Texas was renamed "Miracle" after it was discovered that no one had departed. The town has since become a magnet for tourists and people who are convinced it is special and can keep them safe. Among the local families is the Murphys: the father, John (Kevin Carroll), the mother, Erika (Regina King), and their twins, Evie (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Michael (Jovan Adepo). While trying to protect his town from frauds and charlatans, John gets an ominous warning from a man who claims to have psychic powers. Soon afterwards, Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), Nora Durst (Carrie Coon) and Jill Garvey (Margaret Qualley) show up in Miracle. This newly formed "family" left Mapleton to start over, but Kevin cannot seem to escape his past. The Murphy family and Kevin subsequently experience a mysterious event that will that change their lives forever.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Jacqueline Hoyt; directed by Mimi Leder.

Episode #12 (season 2, episode 2): "A Matter of Geography"

Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 11 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 11 (11:30 p.m., 2:00 a.m.), 12 (1:00 a.m.), 13 (8:00 p.m., 4:40 a.m.), 14 (10:00 p.m.), 15 (11:50 p.m.), 16 (9:00 p.m.), 17 (11:00 p.m.) and 23 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 12 (9:30 p.m.), 14 (6:30 p.m.), 17 (12:30 p.m.) and 18 (8:00 p.m.), and Nov. 27 (1:00 p.m.)

Kevin, Nora and Jill try to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of the Mapleton riots, but problems from the past keep resurfacing. The new Garvey clan finds a fresh start in the safety of Miracle. Nora makes an impulsive choice, while Kevin gets entangled in the Murphy family's problems.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta; directed by Mimi Leder.

Episode # 13 (season 2, episode 3): "Off Ramp"

Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 18 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 18 (11:30 p.m., 2:00 a.m.), 19 (11:30 p.m.), 20 (7:00 p.m., 4:40 a.m.), 21 (10:00 p.m.), 22 (midnight), 23 (9:00 p.m.), 24 (1:30 a.m.) and 30 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 19 (9:30 p.m.), 21 (7:00 p.m.), 24 (2:30 p.m.) and 25 (8:00 p.m.), and Nov. 27 (2:00 p.m.)

Laurie (Amy Brenneman) and Tom Garvey's (Chris Zylka) work to rescue lost souls takes a toll on theirs. Laurie seeks to spread the word about the Guilty Remnant's dangers, while Tom's infiltration of the cult uncovers a whole new nest of problems.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Patrick Somerville; directed by Carl Franklin.

Episode # 14 (season 2, episode 4): "Orange Sticker"

Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 25 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 25 (11:30 p.m., 1:30 a.m.), 26 (10:30 p.m.), 27 (8:00 p.m., 1:15 a.m.), 28 (10:00 p.m.), 29 (midnight), 30 (9:00 p.m.) and 31 (11:15 p.m.), and Nov. 6 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 26 (9:00 p.m.), 28 (7:00 p.m.) and 31 (2:00 p.m.), and Nov. 1 (8:00 p.m.) and 27 (3:00 p.m.)

In the midst of an earthquake, Nora awakens to find Kevin missing and her hopes of safety in their new town dashed. The Murphys are left reeling after Evie's disappearance. Kevin returns home, but without his memory of the night before or his cell phone, which would link him to the missing girls. Meanwhile, an old enemy makes her return in an unexpected way.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Tom Spezialy; directed by Tom Shankland.

The new season of THE LEFTOVERS will also be available on HBO NOW and HBO GO.

THE LEFTOVERS is produced for HBO by White Rabbit in association with Warner Bros. Television; created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta; executive produced by Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta, Mimi Leder, Tom Spezialy and Peter Berg; co-executive producers, Gene Kelly, Jacqueline Hoyt, Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa. Lindelof serves as showrunner.