This time last year, TNT renewed its alien action-drama, 'Falling Skies,' just barely in time for Comic-Con, but 2013 seems to have given the 2nd Massachusetts a bigger head start. The Steven Spielberg invasion series will officially return for a fourth season in 2014, this time with David Eick ('Battlestar Galactica') in place as showrunner, replacing Remi Aubuchon.

Though 'Falling Skies' season 3 has only aired half of its 10 episodes, work had actually already begun on 'Falling Skies' season 4 with Eick at the head of the writer's room. Given the alien drama's universally consistent performance and somewhat unusual production schedule, TNT usually greenlights the series to begin work on the next year in advance of the official renewal announcement.

Having averaged 5.8 million viewers across the third season, and emerging as basic cable's #1 scripted series with adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, 'Falling Skies' will return with a 10-episode season 4 in its usual summer airing slot for 2014.

In addition to Noah Wyle's central role on the series, 'Falling Skies' includes the cast of Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Connor Jessup, Maxim Knight, Seychelle Gabriel, Mpho Koaho, Colin Cunningham and Sarah Carter. Season 3 guest stars include ‘Battlestar Galactica‘ vet Michael Hogan, 'Hellboy' star Doug Jones, former ‘House‘ star Robert Sean Leonard, '7th Heaven' star Stephen Collins, and Noah Wyle’s former ‘E.R.’ co-star Gloria Reuben as Marina Perlata.

We'll be on hand to hear what the 'Falling Skies' cast has to say at Comic-Con 2013, but what say you? Are you glad to be assured of 'Falling Skies' fourth season? Watch the latest preview below, and give us your thoughts in the comments!

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