Showrunner Jon Bokenkamp says NBC has renewed its James Spader series, The Blacklist, for a fourth season. Bokenkamp broke the news during an interview with Troy Heinritz and Aaron Peterson of “The Blacklist Exposed” podcast, hosted on Golden Spiral Media.

Variety reports it has confirmed the renewal, and quotes Bokenkamp’s remarks to the podcast:

“We knew about that a while ago, it’s one of those things that’s hard to keep quiet. But yes, we’re renewed through the fourth season,” Bokenkamp revealed during the interview.

Bokenkamp also tweeted about The Blacklist’s season four renewal:

SEASON 4! @theblacklist https://t.co/ikzV1IRGdb @MeganBoone @HarryJLennix @Ryan_Eggold @AmirArison @HISHAMTAWFIQ @DKlattenhoff @mozhanistan

— Jon Bokenkamp (@JonBokenkamp) December 8, 2015

Currently in its third season, The Blacklist has fallen in the ratings each year. Some of its slide can be attributed to the show’s move from Monday nights to Thursdays, which have long been a problem for the Peacock Network.

As of the November 19th season three mid-season finale, The Blacklist had a season-to-date ratings average of 1.49, in the 18-49 demographic. Thus far in season three, The Blacklist has averaged a total audience of 6.941 million viewers.

The Blacklist‘s ratings are down from season one and season two. Still, this season’s ratings are high enough land the series in the top half of NBC’s scripted shows. As of December 7, 2015, The Blacklist ranked sixth out of NBC’s 13 scripted series, airing in the fall of 2015.

The Blacklist is not the first NBC series to get an early renewal, this television season. NBC renewed freshman hit drama, Blindspot, back in November.

NBC also renewed Chicago Fire for a fifth season, while the drama was only four episodes into season four. Likewise, it renewed its Chicago PD TV show for a fourth season.

Last week, NBC announced a fourth season of Hollywood Game Night. Hosted by Jane Lynch, season four of the celebrity party-game show premieres Tuesday, January 5, 2016, at 8:00pm ET/PT.

The Blacklist is set to return with the second half of season three, Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 9:00pm ET/PT.

What do you think? Are you a fan of The Blacklist TV show? Are you surprised it has been renewed, despite its ratings decline? Do you plan to tune in for the second half of season three and for season four?