Showtime orders third season of 'Homeland'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. cable television network Showtime says it has ordered a third season of its CIA drama, "Homeland."

The 12-episode new season, was announced by David Nevins, president of entertainment at Showtime Networks Inc.

The network said the series returned for its second season Sept. 30 and is up 60 percent from its Season 1 premiere, which delivered 2.07 million viewers for the night. The Season 2 premiere of "Homeland" attracted 5.2 million viewers across all platforms, a series high and the best performance for a sophomore series on Showtime.

"The Emmy wins for 'Homeland' have certainly set the stage for a great second season," said Nevins in a statement. "The writers, cast and crew of 'Homeland' continue to create a remarkably entertaining and suspenseful roller coaster ride, growing audiences week after week. We can't wait for our viewers to experience what unfolds through the rest of Season 2. Our partners at Fox 21 have been tremendous, and we are thrilled to begin the planning for 'Homeland's' third season."

"Homeland" last month earned six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series.

Claire Danes stars in the show as Carrie Mathison, a CIA officer battling her own demons, who is convinced the intelligence that led to the rescue of Damian Lewis' character Nicholas Brody, a U.S. soldier who had been missing and presumed dead for eight years, was a setup and may be connected to an Al Qaeda plot to be carried out on American soil, a Showtime synopsis said. The series also stars Mandy Patinkin, Morena Baccarin, David Harewood, Diego Klattenhoff, Jackson Pace, Morgan Saylor, Jamey Sheridan, David Marciano and Navid Negahban.