FX has no plans to shut down Sons of Anarchy, the most successful drama series in the station’s history. The cable channel has just renewed the critically-acclaimed and high-rated TV show for a fifth season of 13 episodes.

There’s still seven installments left in Sons of Anarchy’s fourth season and they won’t finish running until Tuesday, November 29th.

Here’s the press release from FX:

NOBODY MESSES WITH SAMCRO

FX Orders Fifth Season of Its Acclaimed Hit Drama “Sons of Anarchy”

Series is Basic Cable’s #1 Scripted Drama Series Among Adults 18-49 and FX’s Highest-Rated Series Ever

7 All New Episodes Remain This Season Airing Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT With Season Four Finale Airing November 29

LOS ANGELES, October 17, 2011 – FX has ordered a 13 episode fifth season of its critically acclaimed hit drama Sons of Anarchy, from Fox 21 and FX Productions, announced John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX Networks.

Starring Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman and Golden Globe(R) Award winner Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy is having its best season yet from a ratings standpoint. It’s currently the #1 scripted drama series in all of basic cable, and is the highest-rated series ever on FX. On a first-run basis, season four is averaging 5.8 million Total Viewers and 3.9 million Adults 18-49, increases of +30% and +26%, respectively, vs. season three. On a multi-telecast weekly basis, season four is averaging 9 million Total Viewers and 6 million Adults 18-49.

The series has shown remarkable consistency week-to-week. The premiere episode of season four (9/6/11) was the most-watched program in FX history, with 6.5 million Total Viewers. Last week’s episode (episode 6, 10/11/11) was the highest-rated episode in the past four weeks (Live + Same Day).

“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,” said Landgraf. “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. The fans know how beautifully SOA meets this challenge, and we thank them for their loyal and passionate viewership.”

Seven all-new episodes remain in SOA’s current fourth season airing Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT. In the next episode of Sons of Anarchy (“Fruit for the Crows,” October 18, 10PM ET/PT), SAMCRO deals with the fallout from a death threat made against Tara.

Sons of Anarchy was created by Kurt Sutter who also serves as Executive Producer along with John Linson, Art Linson and Paris Barclay. The series is produced by FX Productions and Fox 21. Fox 21 is Twentieth Century Fox Television’s alternative production arm devoted to producing high quality programming on a lower cost basis.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of distinctive original series and films, an established film library with box-office hit movies from 20th Century Fox and other major studios that run in prime time and an impressive lineup of acquired hit series.

What do you think? Are you glad to hear that Sons of Anarchy has been renewed for a fifth season? How long do you think the show could realistically continue?

Image courtesy FX.