AMC has renewed the 1980s computer drama “Halt and Catch Fire” for a second season.
The series stars Lee Pace as Joe, tortured entrepreneur driving hardware mastermind Gordon (Scoot McNairy) and wunderkind developer Cameron (Mackenzie Davis) to develop an entirely new kind of personal computer the Silicon Prairie of 1980s Texas. Gordon’s wife, Donna, is a wild card: potentially the smartest of the bunch, she’s also shockingly underestimated.
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Though the show debuted to modest ratings, it earned critical praise and maintained a steady and affluent core audience. That made it appealing to AMC as it seeks successors to acclaimed dramas like “Breaking Bad,” which ended last year, and “Mad Men,” which will end next year.
“This is a show about invention, experimentation, and the inherent risks in trying to break new ground – themes that really resonate with us as a network and attracted a passionate audience,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president. “We have a history of demonstrating patience through the early seasons of new shows, betting on talent and building audience over time. We see that opportunity here and look forward to a second season of ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ from creators Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers, and showrunner Jonathan Lisco.”
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“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to continue telling this story. Our series about creation, innovation, and taking bold risks wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for our partners at AMC, a network known for these very things,” from show creators Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers, and showrunner Jonathan Lisco. “Harnessing the momentum of our first season, this next chapter will take the rich characters our audience has come to love in new and surprising directions.”
It averaged 1.3 million total viewers in live + same day for its initial 10 episodes.