The series — which also features stage stars Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan and Zeljko Ivanek — debuted on the cable network July 24. Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman created the show, which aired Tuesdays at 10 PM to an average of 5.1 million total viewers, according to FX.
The network renewed the series for 26 further episodes; the series is slated to go into production early next year in New York. Series regulars Close, Byrne and Donovan are currently signed on for the second season.
"FX is proud of our status as a leader in fostering bold, high quality scripted programming," said FX President and General Manager John Landgraf in an announcement. "We commend Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman and their magnificent cast, headed by Glenn Close, with pulling off this hugely ambitious series and establishing 'Damages' as one of the best dramas on American television."
"Damages" marks the sixth "concurrent drama series" — along with "The Shield," "Nip/Tuck," "Rescue Me," "Dirt" and "The Riches" — for FX, marking "the most ever for a cable network in that genre," boasts the network.
Close played a high-stakes litigator in her return to the cable network — where she previously appeared in the cop drama "The Shield." Byrne (La Dispute - Sydney Theatre Company, "Wicker Park"), Donovan (Rabbit Hole - Geffen Playhouse, Lobby Hero, "The O.C.") and Ivanek (The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, The Pillowman, "Oz") co-starred along with Ted Danson, Anastasia Griffith and Noah Bean (Voyage of the Carcass). Among stage folk who appeared in the New York-filmed series are Tom Aldredge, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Philip Bosco, Peter Riegert, David Costabile, Maya Days, Michael Gaston, Kevin Isola, Michael Nouri, Saundra Santiago and Miriam Shor.
Close won Tony Awards for her performances in Sunset Boulevard, Death and the Maiden and The Real Thing. The actress, known for such movies as "Fatal Attraction," "Dangerous Liaisons" and the Mel Gibson "Hamlet," also appeared onstage in The Play What I Wrote, Benefactors, The Crucifer of Blood, Rex and Barnum — for which she earned her first Tony nomination. She starred in TV versions of South Pacific (opposite Harry Connick, Jr. in 2001) and The Lion in Winter (with Patrick Stewart in 2003).
For more information visit fxnetwork.com/damages.
