EMMY(R)-WINNING SERIES "BANSHEE" RETURNS FOR THIRD SEASON JAN. 9, EXCLUSIVELY ON CINEMAX

BANSHEE returns for its ten-episode third season FRIDAY, JAN. 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on CINEMAX. The Emmy(R)-winning show is executive produced by Jonathan Tropper, Peter Macdissi, Alan Ball and Greg Yaitanes.

The show stars Antony Starr ("Wish You Were Here") as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., where he continues his criminal pursuits while enforcing his own code of justice.

Other returning cast regulars include: Ivana Milicevic ("Untitled Cameron Crowe Project," HBO's "Mind of the Married Man") as Carrie Hopewell, a notorious jewel thief who lives in Banshee under an assumed identity with her family, which has recently learned of her criminal past; Ulrich Thomsen ("The Celebration") as Kai Proctor, an intimidating, wealthy businessman who believes he is above the law; Frankie Faison ("The Good Wife," HBO's "The Wire") as Sugar Bates, a powerful and wise former boxer and ex-con who is now the owner of the local watering hole; and Hoon Lee ("The Blacklist") as Job, a dangerous transvestite computer hacker who assists Lucas and Carrie in their criminal enterprises.

Returning cast regulars also include: Rus Blackwell (HBO's "Recount") as Gordon Hopewell, Banshee's district attorney-turned-mayor; Matt Servitto (HBO's "The Sopranos") as Brock Lotus, Lucas' long-suffering veteran deputy; Trieste Kelly Dunn ("Brothers and Sisters") as Siobhan Kelly, Lucas's deputy and new girlfriend; Ryann Shane ("Blue Bloods") as Deva, the Hopewell's daughter, who is rattled after learning that Lucas fathered her; Lili Simmons (HBO's "True Detective") as Rebecca Bowman, who has been taken under the wing of her uncle, Kai Proctor, and is looking to assume a larger role in his criminal activities; Odette Annable ("House, M.D.") as Nola Longshadow, a Native American assassin out to avenge her brother's killing; and Geno Segers ("Teen Wolf") as Chayton Littlestone, the Kinaho tribe's imposing leader.

New cast regulars include Langley Kirkwood ("Black Sails") as Col. Douglas Stowe, a duplicitous Marine leader, and Afton Williamson ("Nashville") as Alison Medding, Banshee's new assistant district attorney.

New guest stars include Denis O'Hare (HBO's "True Blood"; "American Horror Story") as FBI Special Agent Robert Phillips, looking to bring Lucas to justice; Chaske Spencer ("Twilight: New Moon") as Billy Raven, a Kinaho tribe member hired as a new deputy; Tom Pelphrey as Kurt Bunker, a reformed skinhead who applies for the job of deputy at the Banshee sheriff's department; and Meaghan Rath as Aimee King, the last remaining deputy at the corruption-riddled Kinaho Reservation police department.

BANSHEE was created by Jonathan Tropper ("This Is Where I Leave You") and David Schickler ("Kissing in Manhattan"); executive producers, Alan Ball (HBO's "True Blood" and the Emmy(R)-winning "Six Feet Under"), Greg Yaitanes (Emmy(R) winner for directing "House, M.D."), Jonathan Tropper, Peter Macdissi ("Towelhead," HBO's "Six Feet Under"); producer, Robert F. Phillips ("Kingdom Hospital"). Scripts were written by Jonathan Tropper, Halley Gross ("Broad City"), Justin Britt-Gibson ("The Strain"), Adam Targum ("CSI: NY"), Christopher Kelley ("The Wreck of the Unfathomable"), Jennifer Ames (HBO's "Boardwalk Empire") and Steve Turner (HBO's "Boardwalk Empire"). Directors for the new season include Greg Yaitanes, Loni Peristere ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Magnus Martens ("Nattskiftet") and OC Madsen ("Edderkoppen," "Flame and Citron").

January's episodes:

Episode #21: "The Fire Trials"

Debut: FRIDAY, JAN. 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other CINEMAX playdates: Jan. 9 (11:00 p.m., midnight, 2:20 a.m.), 10 (9:00 p.m., midnight) 11 (5:00 p.m.), 12 (8:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m.) and 14 (9:00 p.m., 1:25 a.m.)

Lucas (Antony Starr), Brock (Matt Servitto) and Siobhan (Trieste Kelly Dunn) exact payback on a skinhead responsible for Emmett's death. Now waitressing at a local diner, Carrie (Ivana Milicevic) faces new challenges in the wake of her revelation to Gordon (Rus Blackwell) and Deva (Ryann Shane) about her past. After Alex Longshadow's death, a new, menacing threat looms on the horizon for Lucas, not to mention Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen) and Rebecca (Lili Simmons): Chayton Littlestone (Geno Segers), hell-bent on whipping the Kinaho tribe into a frenzy of violence against their enemies. Investigating the murder of four Marines, Lucas eyes the possibility of a huge, if dangerous, heist, and attempts to reenlist Job (Hoon Lee) to help him and Sugar (Frankie Faison) pull it off.

Written by Jonathan Tropper; directed by Loni Peristere.

Episode #22: "Snakes and Whatnot"

Debut: FRIDAY, JAN. 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Other CINEMAX playdates: Jan. 16 (11:00 p.m., midnight), 17 (9:00 p.m., 12:05 a.m.) 18 (3:40 p.m.), 19 (8:00 p.m., 12:30 a.m.) and 21 (9:00 p.m., 1:30 a.m.)

As Lucas and Carrie case the tunnels under Camp Genoa, Proctor and Rebecca find themselves in a territorial faceoff with two rival drug suppliers and, later, are threatened by a pair of Chayton's thugs. Lucas and new deputy Billy Raven (Chaske Spencer) pay a visit to a decidedly unfriendly Kinaho bar. Carrie tries to end a relationship with Col. Douglas Stowe (Langley Kirkwood), who may be misrepresenting the amount of cash in Camp Genoa. Gordon hits rock bottom before resolving to turn his life around.

Written by Halley Gross; directed by Loni Peristere.

Episode #23: "A Fixer of Sorts"

Debut: FRIDAY, JAN. 23 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Other playdates: Jan. 23 (11:00 p.m., midnight), 24 (9:00 p.m., 12:05 p.m.), 25 (5:10 p.m.), 26 (8:00 p.m., 12:45 a.m.) and 28 (9:00 p.m., 1:10 a.m.)

Lucas' secret is threatened when he's arrested by FBI Special Agent Robert Phillips (Denis O'Hare), but both men end up at the mercy of Raymond Brantley (Shuler Hensley), a mob kingpin with a deadly mobile agenda. Against Chayton's orders, Tommy Littlestone (Ricky Russert) spearheads a second strike against Proctor at a local gentlemen's club. A revenge-minded Nola Longshadow (Odette Annable) mixes it up with Burton (Matthew Rauch) at Proctor's mansion.

Written by Justin Britt-Gibson; directed by Magnus Martens.

Episode #24: "Real Life Is the Nightmare"

Debut: FRIDAY, JAN. 30 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Other CINEMAX playdates: Jan. 30 (11:00 p.m., midnight), 31 (9:00 p.m., 11:30 p.m.), and Feb. 1 (3:45 p.m.), 2 (8:00 p.m., 12:50 a.m.) and 4 (9:00 p.m., 12:45 a.m.)

Siobhan is torn between exposing Lucas and keeping his secret. Brock seethes upon learning that his ex, Emily (Tanya Clarke), is working as a caregiver for Proctor's mom. Rebecca impresses Burton but inflames Chayton. Job and Sugar mop up critical surveillance. Carrie takes off on a thrill ride after walking out on her job. Gordon changes his mind about Proctor's plea bargain. Chayton readies his army for an assault.

Written by Justin Britt-Gibson; directed by Magnus Martens.

In September 2013, BANSHEE received a Primetime Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role.

TV Guide described the second season as "addictively entertaining," while the Daily Beast called it "must-see TV."