SCI FI has greenlit production on a second season of Sanctuary, the Channel’s groundbreaking new hit series, ordering 13 new hours, it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, SCI FI & Co-Head, Original Programming, Universal Cable Productions. Sanctuary is slated to begin production in Vancouver early next year for a 2009 premiere.

“SCI FI will continue to trail blaze the television landscape by further exploring the many worlds of Sanctuary through its unique green screen environments,” said Stern. “Technology and great storytelling makes Sanctuary a fantastic addition to SCI FI’s 2009 lineup.”

More than 3 million viewers tuned in to the premiere of Sanctuary on October 3, 2008 making it the highest rated original series premiere since Eureka debuted in July 2006.

Sanctuary follows the adventures of the beautiful, enigmatic and always surprising Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), a brilliant scientist who holds the secrets of a clandestine population — a group of strange and sometimes terrifying beings that hide among humans. Along with her new recruit, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne), her quirky tech wiz Henry (Ryan Robbins) and her fearless daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup), Magnus seeks to protect this threatened phenomena as well as unlock the mysteries behind their existence. The series also stars Christopher Heyerdahl as the sinister John Druitt.

Created by Damian Kindler (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis), Sanctuary is produced in association with SCI FI Channel and distributed by Tricon Films and Television. Season 2 of the series will be executive produced by Damian Kindler, Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood, Keith Beedie, and N. John Smith.

Source: NBC