AMC's western drama "Hell on Wheels" will be back for a third season, and it will roll onto the air with a new showrunner, the network said Wednesday.
John Wirth, whose credits include "V," "Falling Skies" and "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," is stepping in as executive producer and showunner for the series, replacing departed showrunner John Shiban, who left the show in November. Shiban's exit held up the third-season renewal of the series, which was initially announced slightly before his departure.
Also read: "Hell on Wheels" Boss Exits; Third Season Renewal Held Up
"We look forward to unveiling the next riveting chapter in the complex lives of the denizens of ‘Hell on Wheels,’” Jeremy Gold, "Hell on Wheels" executive producer and head of creative affairs for Endemol Studios, which produces the show, said. "We are delighted that John Wirth will be joining us on this remarkable journey. John is a proven showrunner with a terrific voice and a deep passion for our show."
The 10-episode third season of "Hell on Wheels" will premiere in the third quarter of 2013.
Also read: "Twilight" Director Catherine Hardwicke to Direct "Hell on Wheels" Episode
"Hell on Wheels," which centers around the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, averaged 2.4 million total viewers with its second season, which wrapped in October.