‘The Knick': Cinemax Renews Steven Soderbergh’s Period Drama for Season 2

For those wondering just how good Steven Soderbergh's new period drama series 'The Knick' actually is, how's this for confirmation? Cinemax has just renewed the director's original series for a second season, two months before the first season is set to premiere on August 8.

The renewal was announced by the network today at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. Like the first season, the second season will also star Clive Owen in 10 episodes, all directed and executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, who retired from film directing last year.

Set in New York City in 1900, the show revolves around the Knickerbocker Hospital and the surgeons, nurses, and various staff members who push the boundaries of their practice in a time when their capabilities were limited, mortality rates were exceedingly high, and antibiotics did not yet exist.

Star Clive Owen also produces the series, which co-stars Andre Holland, Juliet Rylance, Michael Angarano, Matt Frewer, Eve Hewson, Jeremy Bobb, Chris Sullivan, Cara Seymour, and many more.

According to Variety, Soderbergh addressed the exaggerated rumors of his retirement during the panel today, too:

11 months ago, I did not think I’d be sitting here talking about 10 hours of material that is behind us and 10 hours in front of us, but I had a very similar reaction to the one Clive had when I read the first script … I knew that, as the first person who got to take a look at it, the second person who was going to see it would say yes. My whole life, I’ve moved in any direction that I felt was going to engage me and excite me.

Any project that can get Soderbergh passionate about working behind the camera is one worth paying attention to, and Cinemax apparently agrees. We'll be keeping an eye on 'The Knick,' which premieres on the network Friday, August 8.