FX renews 'Sons of Anarchy'

FX has ordered a 13-episode fifth season of "Sons of Anarchy," the cabler's top-rated series in its history. Exec produced by creator Kurt Sutter with John Linson, Art Linson and Paris Barclay, "Sons" has averaged 5.8 million overall viewers (3.9 million among adults 18-49) for initial airings this season, roughly a 30% improvement over season three. Those viewer figures increase by about 50% when encore presentations of each episode are accounted for. The season-four premiere on Sept. 6 was the most-watched program in FX history with 6.5 million viewers. Seven episodes remain in the current season. "Everyone at FX is very grateful to Kurt Sutter, his many writing, directing and producing collaborators and his masterful cast for making such a compelling and beautifully crafted show," FX prexy and general manager John Landgraf said. "It is no small challenge to bring the themes of a great, ancient play like 'Hamlet' into a wholly original television setting and to tell this complex story in a way that is both riveting and accessible to a broad audience." Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman and Katey Sagal star in "Sons," produced by FX Prods. and Twentieth Century Fox TV's alternative production arm, Fox 21. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com