FX Renews 'Tyrant,' Orders 10 Episodes Of Mid-East Drama For Season 3

FX announced Thursday that political drama Tyrant will return for Season 3. The series, produced and co-created by Emmy-award winning producer Howard Gordon follows an American family that has become a part of violent inner-workings of a Middle Eastern nation. FX has ordered 10 episodes that will air in 2016. Adam Rayner, Jennifer Finnigan and Ashraf Barhom will be included in the cast.

It's official. Return to Abbudin for Tyrant's all-new season in 2016. #TyrantFX pic.twitter.com/ZHlNjxibQ8

— Tyrant (@TyrantFX) October 8, 2015

"The second season took the show to a new level thanks to the skill and direction of Howard, Chris and Glenn and their creative team, the exceptional cast and a story steeped in family, loyalty and intrigue," FX Co-President of Original Programming Eric Schrier said in a statement. "We look forward to the next chapter and a sensational third season."

The second season of the drama included 12 episodes, although 13 were originally ordered.

The first season of Tyrant premiered to mixed reviews. A Muslim civil rights group expressed their concerns over "potential Islamophobic stereotyping." Which led the network to share a response that stated that the producers "had internal and external discussions to address those concerns."

The Middle East-set series also faced issues behind the camera while filming on location. News spread of a director switch, set relocations during each filmed season, and Co-Creator Gideon Raff's departure. During its debut, the show fell victim to criticism over a violent rape scene in the pilot.

Gordon spoke about the controversial scene with an understanding of his critics and stated, "I know it was a nonstarter for a lot of people, and I know that it turned a lot of viewers away right at the outset, but I think it's unfortunate that their assessment of the show began and ended there because this show has so much more to offer and is so much more than that moment."

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