Hell on Wheels is back tonight

Hell on Wheels is back with the season two premiere tonight on AMC at 9 pm.

Christopher Heyerdahl is a regular this season and Ryan Robbins makes his first appearance as Hawkins the train robber in tonight's episode.

Synopsis:

On the run for his crimes, Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) robs trains with a group of ex-Union soldiers, while Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott) and Durant (Colm Meaney) continue the Union Pacific Railroad's westward progress.

On Sun., Aug. 12 at 9/8c, the second season of Hell on Wheels continues its epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), a former Confederate soldier, and his dramatic journey west as he struggles to leave his past behind.

Executive produced by John Shiban (Breaking Bad, The X-Files), Joe and Tony Gayton (Faster, Uncommon Valor) and Endemol USA’s Jeremy Gold, the show depicts the traveling town known as Hell on Wheels, a dangerous, raucous, lawless melting pot that follows and services the construction of the first transcontinental railroad.

Hell on Wheels also stars Common as Elam Ferguson; Colm Meaney as Thomas “Doc” Durant; Dominique McElligott as Lily Bell; Christopher Heyerdahl as The Swede; Robin McLeavy as Eva; Tom Noonan as Reverend Cole; Ben Esler as Sean McGinnes; Philip Burke as Mickey McGinnes; and Eddie Spears as Joseph Black Moon.

Here is a sneak peek:

20 episodes for Caprica, says Verheiden

Battlestar Galactica executive producer Mark Verheiden says that SCI FI Channel ordered 20 episodes of Caprica for early 2010. He also posted this earlier today:

I wrote the first post-pilot episode a few months ago, so I am fairly familiar with the story and I'll just say -- if you enjoyed the challenging and intriguing world of Battlestar Galactica, you'll love Caprica. That said, it's as different from Battlestar's "feel" as you can imagine, dealing with emotional and science-fiction conceits in an entirely different and very adult way...

Two additional Caprica scripts ordered

Sci Fi has ordered two more Caprica scripts, reports Maureen Ryan at Chicago Tribune, citing a source close to the show.

The writers who will work on the two additional scripts are Battlestar Galactica and Caprica creator Ron Moore, Galactica writers Michael Angeli and Mark Verheiden, and writers’ assistant Ryan Mottesheard, the article continues.

There is no official word yet that Caprica will go to series, but more news on the status of the prequel is expected to come at the TCAs on July 20, when Sci Fi will hold a presentation of the show.

Jeff Reiner (Friday Night Lights), who directed the Caprica pilot, might be in attendance at the event.