As you may or may not know already, FX has set a return date for Justified, the popular TV series that stars Timothy Olyphant as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. The show was renewed midway through its first season, all the way back in May. Season two will kick off on Wednesday, February 9th at 10pm. Here’s the official press release from FX…

FX SETS RETURN DATE FOR SEASON TWO OF “JUSTIFIED”

Critically Acclaimed Series Starring Timothy Olyphant Returns Wednesday, February 9 at 10 PM ET/PT
Season Two Will Air For 13 Weeks

LOS ANGELES, December 21, 2010 – Criminals beware: Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is back as FX announced that season two of its critically acclaimed drama series Justified will return on Wednesday, February 9 at 10 PM ET/PT and run for 13 weeks.

Developed by Graham Yost and starring Timothy Olyphant, Justified is based on the works of crime novelist Elmore Leonard, including Leonard’s short story Fire in the Hole. Fresh off the epic gun battle that concluded season one, season two of Justified finds Bo Crowder dead and the Crowder criminal grip on Harlan County broken. “Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens” must now face off against the criminal organizations who are moving to fill the void, and he finds himself entangled once again with the mercurial Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins).

The series co-stars Nick Searcy as Givens longtime friend and boss “Chief Deputy Art Mullen;” Jacob Pitts as “Deputy Marshal Tim Gutterson;” Erica Tazel as “Deputy Marshal Rachel Brooks;” Joelle Carter as “Ava Crowder,” Boyd Crowder’s sister-in-law; and Natalie Zea as Raylan’s ex-wife “Winona Hawkins.” Walton Goggins also stars as “Boyd Crowder.”

Joining the cast in recurring roles this season are Margo Martindale (Million Dollar Baby, The Riches), Jeremy Davies (Lost, Saving Private Ryan), Joseph Lyle Taylor (100 Centre Street) and Brad William Henke (October Road), who play members of the “Bennett Family.” For generations the Bennetts have been the biggest pot farmers in Eastern Kentucky, and have a long-standing feud with Raylan’s family.

Yost wrote the pilot and serves as Executive Producer/Writer on the series. Leonard is also an Executive Producer on the series along with Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, Fred Golan and Michael Dinner who directed the pilot episode. Justified is produced by Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 96 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series, an established film library of acquired box-office hit movies, and an impressive lineup of acquired hit series.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to season two of Justified? What do you like about this series?

Image courtesy FX.