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'Mercy Street' renewed for a second season

By Karen Butler
Mary Elizabeth Winstead arrives at the "10 Cloverfield Lane" New York premiere on March 8, 2016 in New York City. Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI
Mary Elizabeth Winstead arrives at the "10 Cloverfield Lane" New York premiere on March 8, 2016 in New York City. Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI | License Photo

ARLINGTON, Va., March 20 (UPI) -- PBS says it has green-lit a second season of its period drama Mercy Street.

"We are thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response to Mercy Street and the return of high-quality American drama on PBS stations," Beth Hoppe, chief programming officer and general manager of general audience programming for PBS, said in a statement.

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"We're looking forward to a second season offering more fascinating stories inspired by historical events. The effort from everyone involved, including the producers, directors, historical consultants, actors and PBS stations, resulted in an extraordinary series that exemplifies PBS' world-class programming."

Season 1 took place in the spring of 1862 in Alexandria, Va., "a border town between North and South and the longest-occupied Confederate city of the war," a synopsis said. "Ruled under martial law, Alexandria was the central melting pot of the region, filled with civilians, female volunteers, doctors, wounded soldiers from both sides, free blacks, enslaved and contraband [escaped slaves living behind Union lines] African Americans, prostitutes, speculators and spies. Mercy Street follows the lives of all of these characters, who collide at Mansion House, the Green family's luxury hotel, which has been taken over and transformed into a Union Army hospital."

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Season 2 picks up directly after the events of the Season 1 finale.

"It has been a privilege for all of us on Mercy Street to be able to tell these stories at the intersection of drama and history, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to build on what we've already done," remarked co-creator and executive producer David Zabel. "The quality entertainment and educational value that Mercy Street provides have made the show a perfect fit for PBS, and we're elated that the first season has resonated with its audience."

The ensemble cast for Season 2 includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josh Radnor, Gary Cole, Hannah James, Brad Koed Jr., Norbert Leo Butz, Jack Falahee, McKinley Belcher III, Tara Summers, Donna Murphy AnnaSophia Robb and Luke Macfarlane.

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