AMC has announced that the third season of Hell on Wheels will debut at 9pm on Saturday, August 3rd. The cable channel renewed the series for another 10 episodes back in October.

Here’s the press release with some additional details:

AMC EXPANDS TO SATURDAY AS A NIGHT FOR ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING

“HELL ON WHEELS” SEASON 3 PREMIERES SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 AT 9PM ET/PT

AMC Also Acquires Additional Western Classics to Make Saturday a Destination for Western Fans from Sunrise to Sundown

New York – April 15, 2013 – AMC announced today that the network is adding a third night of original programming with the season three premiere of “Hell on Wheels” debuting Saturday, August 3 at 9pm ET/PT. Executive produced by showrunner John Wirth (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Falling Skies,” “The Cape”), Mark Richard and Jeremy Gold, Head of Creative Affairs, Endemol Studios and, and starring Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, and Common, season 3 of “Hell on Wheels” lands in the year 1867, the third year of the building of the transcontinental railroad. Cullen Bohannon leaves his vengeance-seeking behind and invests in the new American landscape…the beginnings of big business, big religion, and the new role of Wall Street in the White House. Bohannon must contend with racism, greed and murder as he single-mindedly leads the Union Pacific in its race across the country against the Central Pacific Railroad. The high stakes corporate race, the environmental costs and degradation of the native peoples’ way of life are themes that resonate deeply in today’s America.

For over a decade of Saturdays, AMC has celebrated the American western genre through a mix of series and movies. Today, AMC adds to its inventory a selection of classic films from Paramount Pictures to super-serve the western fan including “El Dorado” (1967), “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962), “The Shootist” (1976) and “The Sons of Katie Elder” (1965). The network will also celebrate the anniversaries of several renowned westerns including the 60th anniversary of “Hondo” (1953) and the 50th anniversary of “McLintock!” (1963), both starring John Wayne, as well as the 45th anniversary of “Hang ’em High” (1968) and the 40th anniversary of “High Plains Drifter” (1973), both starring Clint Eastwood. These films will join the classics including “Chisum” (1970), “The Cowboys” (1972), “Rio Bravo” (1959), “The Alamo” (1960), “The Undefeated” (1969), “Joe Kidd” (1972), “A Fistful of Dollars” (1964), “For a Few Dollars More” (1965) and “The Good the Bad and the Ugly” (1966), which are already licensed by AMC. Moreover, the network has also acquired the television series, “Rawhide,” starring Clint Eastwood, which joins Rifleman beginning April 20. Additionally the network will air the mini-series Lonesome Dove and, for the very first time on AMC, its sequel, Return to Lonesome Dove.

“A new episode of ‘Hell on Wheels’ on Saturday night after a full day of western fan favorites is going to be like the saddle on top of the horse,” said Charlie Collier, President and General Manager, AMC. “This is a programmer’s dream – to have a genre specific, 14-hour lead-in to one of your highest rated originals. We are so excited about this opportunity to entertain AMC’s audience in a new way.”

“Hell on Wheels” showrunner, John Wirth, says the new season “will be a western about work — the building of the railroad, the binding of the nation after the Civil War, and the rehabilitation of the men who lived and fought their way through those exploits. This season we’re placing Cullen Bohannon at the center of the show, and taking him away from the revenge motive which propelled him into the series.” He continues, “AMC has raised the bar for television dramas, they’ve set the gold standard. There’s nothing else like this on television.”

“Hell on Wheels,” was the second highest series launch in AMC history and was also a top 20 program for engagement among age 25-54 (IAG) for the broadcast season for 2011-2012. The series’ second season wrapped in October 2012 with an average of 2.4 million total viewers and 3.2 million viewers with Live plus 7. “Hell on Wheels” was developed by Endemol USA. The series is produced by leading independent studio, Entertainment One (eOne) and Nomadic Pictures. eOne’s Television CEO John Morayniss and EVP US scripted television Michael Rosenberg oversee production in partnership with co-producers Mike Frislev and Chad Oakes from Nomadic Pictures.

Through an international distribution partnership, Endemol USA held television distribution rights for the series across Europe and Entertainment One handled rights in all remaining territories as well as worldwide rights for DVD/Blu-ray, VOD and Digital distribution.

About AMC

Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, AMC brings to its audience something deeper, something richer, Something More. The network reigns as the only cable network in history ever to win the Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row, and boasts the most-watched drama series in basic cable history with “The Walking Dead.” AMC’s original drama series include “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Killing” and “Hell on Wheels.” Its newest series, “Low Winter Sun,” premieres this summer. AMC also explores authentic worlds with bold characters through its slate of unscripted original series like “Comic Book Men,” “Small Town Security,” “Talking Dead,” and “Freakshow.” AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel, and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Something More.

About Endemol USA:

Endemol USA is a leading producer of television programming specializing in unscripted and scripted genres for network and cable television. David Goldberg is Chairman and CEO of Endemol North America. The studio produces hit series including “Big Brother” (CBS); “Wipeout” (ABC) and the syndicated daytime show “Steve Harvey.” They are also known for producing some of the most popular non-scripted primetime programming in North America, including “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “Fear Factor.” Endemol USA launched Endemol Studios, a scripted television studio operation, in August, 2011. Scripted series include “Hell on Wheels” (AMC), “Red Widow” (ABC) and “Low Winter Sun” (AMC). Endemol USA’s subsidiary production companies include Authentic Entertainment (“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo”), Endemol Studios, 51 Minds (“Flavor of Love”), Original Media (“Swamp People”) and True Entertainment (“Real Housewives of Atlanta”). Endemol USA is a division of the Endemol Group, a leading international content developer, producer and distributor of television and online programming. The company, headquartered in the Netherlands and the UK, has over 80 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 31 countries, including the major European markets, the U.S., Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. Endemol is a privately held company. For more information, please visit www.endemolusa.tv.

About Entertainment One Television

Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is an international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Spain, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 35,000 film and television titles, 2,700 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks. http://www.entertainmentonegroup.com.

About Paramount Home Media Distribution

Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The PHMD division oversees PPC’s home entertainment, digital and television distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for certain DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment titles. PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and distribution across worldwide digital and television distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to watching the third season of Hell on Wheels on AMC? How do you think it compares to their other shows?