Syfy Renews Original Drama Series The Magicians for a Second Season

NEW YORK – Feb. 8, 2016 – Syfy today announced it has renewed hit drama series THE MAGICIANS for a second season of 13 episodes, expected to air in 2017. THE MAGICIANS is from Universal Cable Productions and is executive produced by John McNamara (Aquarius), Sera Gamble (Supernatural), Henry Alonso Myers (Covert Affairs) and Groundswell Productions’ Michael London and Janice Williams (Milk).

Based on the bestselling novels from Lev Grossman, THE MAGICIANS is currently airing its first season on Syfy on Mondays at 9PM ET/PT. The series’ fourth episode premieres tonight.

“Thanks to an extraordinarily gifted creative team of executive producers and our partners at Universal Cable Productions, THE MAGICIANS has become a buzzed-about hit, enchanting fans of the novels as well as attracting new and younger audiences to Syfy,” said Dave Howe, President, Syfy & Chiller.

During its first three episodes, THE MAGICIANS averaged 1.7 million viewers, 853K Adults 18-49 and 910K Adults 25-54 (based on L3 data). The series is also strong among younger viewers, with Adults 18-34 growing consecutively over each episode, averaging 180% above Syfy’s prime time delivery in that demo.

Digitally, the series’ first episode was sampled more than 6.7 million times during its pre-linear launch (January 8 to January 25) across Syfy.com and select partner sites, as well as On Demand cable, satellite and telco TV platforms. Additionally, an on-air sneak peek of the pilot, airing December 16 at 10PM ET/PT, drew 1.3 million total viewers (based on L+7 data).

Starring Jason Ralph (Quentin Coldwater), Stella Maeve (Julia), Olivia Taylor Dudley (Alice) Hale Appleman (Eliot), Arjun Gupta (Penny) and Summer Bishil (Margo), THE MAGICIANS centers on Quentin, a brilliant grad student chosen to attend Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, a secret upstate New York university specializing in magic. He and his 20-something friends soon discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real when they unwittingly invite a malevolent entity from the other side into their world. Also reprising their roles for season two will be series regulars Rick Worthy (Dean Fogg) and Jade Tailor (Kady).

THE MAGICIANS is part of a powerhouse Syfy 2016 lineup that includes THE EXPANSE, which was recently renewed for a 13-episode second season, and the upcoming April 11 scripted series HUNTERS from “The Walking Dead” executive producer Gale Anne Hurd. This year will also see premieres of season two of the critically acclaimed 12 MONKEYS (April 18), as well as INCORPORATED, a futuristic thriller from Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Todd’s Pearl Street Films (coming in Fall 2016). Additional high profile scripted projects in development include Aldous Huxley’s classic novel BRAVE NEW WORLD with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television; and David Goyer’s Superman prequel, KRYPTON.

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