Stephen King’s ‘Mr. Mercedes’ Renewed For Season 2 At AT&T’s Audience Network

AT&T’s Audience Network has renewed “Mr. Mercedes” for a 10-episode Season 2.

According to Variety, David E. Kelley will return to write the script for the next season, with Jack Bender also returning as director. Kelley, Bender and Stephen King will also continue to serve as executive producers, along with Dennis Lehane, who will also write. Production for the 10 one-hour episodes is set to begin in February for a premiere in late 2018.

“We’re thrilled that the first installment of ‘Mr. Mercedes’ resonated with such a wide audience,” said Christopher Long, head of the Audience Network, in a statement. “David E. Kelley, Jack Bender, Dennis Lehane, and [production company] Sonar [Entertainment] did a masterful job crafting a series that honored the original work by Stephen King. We’re excited to have the opportunity to create a second season with this incredible team.”

Just like Season 1, Season 2 will be based on Stephen King’s Bill Hodges Trilogy, which includes “Mr. Mercedes,” “Finders Keepers” and “End of Watch.” “The master plan, which of course is always subject to change, is each book would represent a whole season, and ‘Mr. Mercedes’ is the first season. Then we’ll turn to Season 2 and the second book," Kelley told The Hollywood Reporter last August.

Although there are only three books in the novel series, Kelley said that he would be open to going beyond a potential third season. “Going into this, the idea is that we have three books and in success it would make for three seasons and then, who knows? Maybe longer if we're having fun.”

Season 1 of “Mr. Mercedes” follows Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway), a demented killer who taunts retired police detective Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson) with a series of lurid letters and emails, forcing the latter to undertake a private and potentially felonious crusade to bring the killer to justice before he strikes again.

In addition to Treadaway and Gleeson, the show’s freshman also stars Kelly Lynch as Deborah Hartsfield, Jharrel Jerome as Jerome Robinson, Scott Lawrence as Detective Peter Dixon, Robert Stanton as Anthony “Robi” Frobisher, Breeda Wool as Lou Linklatter, Justine Lupe as Holly Gibney, Ann Cusack as Olivia Trelawney, Mary Louise-Parker as Janey Patterson and Holland Taylor as Ida Silver.

“Mr. Mercedes” Season 1 finale airs tonight at 8 p.m. EDT on Audience Network.