PEABODY AWARD-WINNING DRAMA SERIES "THE LEFTOVERS" RETURNS FOR ITS THIRD AND FINAL SEASON APRIL 16 ON HBO; SERIES CREATED BY DAMON LINDELOF AND TOM PERROTTA; LINDELOF SERVES AS SHOWRUNNER

In an instant, 140 million people vanished from the face of the earth. The cause of that incredible event remains unknown, and there is no indication that those who are gone will ever be seen or heard from again.

Created by Damon Lindelof (Emmy(R) winner for "Lost") and acclaimed novelist Tom Perrotta ("Election"; Academy Award(R) nominee for "Little Children"), the Peabody Award-winning drama series THE LEFTOVERS follows the lives that were forever changed by the event that shook the world on October 14. Filmed on location in Texas and Australia, the show's eight-episode, third and final season begins SUNDAY, APRIL 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Adapting Tom Perrotta's bestselling novel of the same name, season one explored the dynamics of one family, the Garveys, in the suburbs of New York. Continuing to focus on the ways ordinary people react to inexplicable events, season two uprooted that family and introduced another, the Murphys, as the show ventured into the unexplored territory of Miracle, Texas.

In the third season, those families come together as they desperately grasp for a system of belief to better explain what defies explanation. The world is crackling with the energy of something big about to happen, a corresponding bookend to the Sudden Departure that sent them all spinning years earlier, bringing their journey Down Under.

The cast of season three includes: Justin Theroux (as Kevin Garvey), Carrie Coon (Nora Durst), Amy Brenneman (Laurie Garvey), Christopher Eccleston (Matt Jamison), Kevin Carroll (John Murphy), Jovan Adepo (Michael Murphy), Scott Glenn (Kevin Garvey Sr.), Lindsay Duncan (Grace), Regina King (Erika Murphy), Chris Zylka (Tom Garvey), Margaret Qualley (Jill Garvey), Janel Moloney (Mary Jamison), Jasmin Savoy-Brown (Evie Murphy) and Liv Tyler (Meg).

With the seventh anniversary of the Sudden Departure approaching, Kevin Garvey is at a crossroads. Though no longer tormented by Patti, he still questions if an ordinary life is possible. For Nora, Miracle didn't turn out to be the safe haven she was looking for, and Kevin's strange behavior has made her fear for the stability of their family. But Nora's nothing if not resilient.

Laurie Garvey, who left the Guilty Remnant (G.R.) and became a sworn enemy of her former cult, has rejoined her splintered family in Texas. Steady, watchful and wiser than her years, Laurie's daughter, Jill, seeks stability in her own life. Laurie's son, ex-Holy Wayne follower and former undercover G.R. member Tom, wonders if he can just be a son and brother again.

Meanwhile, Matt Jamison's faith in God - and in Miracle - has been rewarded. His wife, Mary, who awakened pregnant from her coma, has resumed life with him. All Matt can do is count his blessings and keep preaching the Word.

Season three also finds the Murphy family affected forever by the faked disappearance of their rebellious teenager, Evie, and by the rogue operation in Miracle, conducted by Meg, the most radical member of the G.R. Hardcore skeptic John Murphy has been shaken to his core by a series of inexplicable events, making him believe there may be miracles in Miracle after all.

Erika Murphy, a physician who dabbles in magical thinking, and a mother spurned by the daughter she loves, is smart and tough, but there's only so much she can take. Son Michael, the most religious member of the family, is a faithful Christian who believes he has witnessed an actual resurrection.

And while all of them in Miracle are trying to find what is lost, to reconnect, to get better, Kevin Garvey, Sr. (Scott Glenn), the former Mapleton Chief of Police who heard voices in his head, is now at large in Australia.

Episodes include:

Episode #21 (season 3, episode 1): "The Book of Kevin"

Debut: SUNDAY, APRIL 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Three years after Miracle, Texas was overrun by the Guilty Remnant, Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) has returned to his role as chief of police. Although he seems to have moved past the incredible events surrounding his "resurrection," the Seventh Anniversary of the Sudden Departure is just two weeks away and many believe another apocalyptic event may come with it.

Written by Damon Lindelof & Patrick Somerville; directed by Mimi Leder.

Episode #22 (season 3, episode 2): "Don't Be Ridiculous"

Debut: SUNDAY, APRIL 23 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

In her official capacity as fraud investigator for the Department of Sudden Departure (D.S.D.), Nora (Carrie Coon) travels to St. Louis to investigate a possible scam that involves convincing the family members of The Departed there's a way to see their loved ones again.

Written by Tha Lonely Donkey Kong & Specialist Contagious; directed by Keith Gordon.

Episode # 23 (season 3, episode 3): "Crazy Whitefella Thinking"

Debut: SUNDAY, APRIL 30 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

With the clock ticking towards the anniversary of the Departure and emboldened by a vision that is either divine prophecy or utter insanity, Kevin Garvey, Sr. (Scott Glenn) wanders the Australian Outback in an effort to save the world from apocalypse.

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

Episode # 24 (season 3, episode 4): "G'Day Melbourne"

Debut: SUNDAY, MAY 7 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Kevin (Justin Theroux) and Nora (Carrie Coon) travel to Australia, where she continues to track down the masterminds of an elaborate con, while he catches a glimpse of an unexpected face from the past, forcing him to confront the traumatic events of three years earlier.

Story by Damon Lindelof; teleplay by Tamara P. Carter & Haley Harris; directed by Daniel Sackheim.

Episode #25 (season 3, episode 5): "It's a Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt World"

Debut date: SUNDAY, MAY 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Convinced it is Kevin's (Justin Theroux) destiny to be in Miracle for the coming seventh anniversary of the Departure, Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston) impulsively heads to Australia in an effort to bring Kevin home. Unfortunately, God gets in the way.

Written by Lila Byock & Damon Lindelof; directed by Nicole Kassell.

Episode #26 (season 3, episode 6): "Certified"

Debut date: SUNDAY, MAY 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Laurie Garvey (Amy Brenneman), a former therapist, must become one again as she heads to Australia to help Nora (Carrie Coon) and Kevin (Justin Theroux) along their paths.

Written by Patrick Somerville & Carly Wray; directed by Carl Franklin.

Episode #27 (season 3, episode 7): "The Most Powerful Man in the World (and His Identical Twin Brother)"

Debut date: SUNDAY, MAY 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

On a mission of mercy, Kevin (Justin Theroux) assumes an alternate identity.

Written by Nick Cuse & Damon Lindelof; directed by Craig Zobel.

The series is also available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

Watch HBO2 to catch up on the entire first season of THE LEFTOVERS Saturday, April 8 (10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.) and the second season Saturday, April 15 (10:00 a.m.-8:15 p.m.).

THE LEFTOVERS is produced for HBO by White Rabbit in association with Warner Bros. Television; executive produced by Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta, Mimi Leder, Tom Spezialy, Eugene Kelly, Peter Berg & Sarah Aubrey; Lindelof serves as showrunner.