Wayward Pines, based on the best selling book series by Blake Crouch, was a surprise hit last year on FOX with a 10-episode arc that showcased top acting talents with Oscar winners and nominees, including Matt Dillon, Toby Jones, Melissa Leo, and Carla Gugino. When it was announced that there would be a second season, the question was, who would be the lead?

More below.

Well, we knew it wouldn’t be Matt Dillon. Dillon’s Ethan Burke killed himself trying to save his son and the other survivors of the mysterious town from the ravages of the Abbies, mutated vampire-like monsters who breached the wall. The big twist of season one was that the town of Wayward Pines existed thousands of years on the future, and was the last hope of humankind, filled with chosen survivors who were preserved in suspended animation. When the season ended we thought the survivors were finally free”¦ except things went dark as the First Generation (the first children born and raised in Wayward Pines) took over in horrifying totalitarian fashion.

In steps Jason Patric, the four decade Hollywood star of such films as The Lost Boys, Rush and Narc. According to Deadline, Patric will portray Dr. Theo Yedlin, a surgeon who is awakened from his suspended animation and must deal with understanding the truth of his new town, while dealing with a rebellion against the First Generation. The whole thing sounds very Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Producer M. Night Shyamalan (The Visit) called Patric “an incredibly grounded and believable actor.” Patric recently finished filming Yellow Birds with Jennifer Aniston and Toni Collette, and is making a return to acting after a bitter custody battle over his son Gus.

Wayward Pines returns later in 2016 on FOX.

FOX’s press release:

JASON PATRIC TO STAR IN SEASON TWO OF “WAYWARD PINES” ON FOX

Next Chapter of Hit Event Series to Premiere this Summer on FOX

Jason Patric (“Rush,” “Narc”) has been cast in a leading role in WAYWARD PINES, the hit psychological thriller event series returning for a second season this summer on FOX. Patric will portray DR. THEO YEDLIN, a confident, driven surgeon whose leadership skills will prove invaluable to the residents of Wayward Pines.

From executive producer M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense,” “The Visit”) and based on the world created by author Blake Crouch in his international best-selling series of books, the 10-episode, second season will pick up after the shocking events of Season One, with the residents of Wayward Pines battling against the iron-fisted rule of the First Generation. Dr. Theo Yedlin – a new resident of Wayward Pines – awakens from suspended animation and finds himself in the middle of this rebellion, as he tries to understand what Wayward Pines really is, and help preserve the endangered human race.

“Jason is an incredibly grounded and believable actor,” said Shyamalan. “I’m so excited for audiences to see what he brings to the world of WAYWARD PINES.”

Patric’s feature film debut came in 1987, when he appeared in the comedy-thriller “The Lost Boys.” He then starred in the war drama “The Beast,” “After Dark, My Sweet” and “Rush,” which earned him critical acclaim. He most recently completed production on the film “The Yellow Birds,” opposite Jennifer Aniston and Toni Collette. Patric’s previous feature credits include “Geronimo: An American Legend,” “The Journey of August King,” “Sleepers” and “Your Friends and Neighbors,” which was the first feature Patric produced for his production company, Fleece. He also starred in the feature films “Downloading Nancy,” “Expired,” “My Sister’s Keeper” and “The Losers,” as well as “Narc” and “The Alamo” for director John Lee Hancock. On Broadway, Patric starred as “Brick” in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Some of his other theater credits include Neil LaBute’s “Bash,” “Beirut,” “Out of Gas on Lover’s Leap,” “The Tempest,” “Henry V” and “Love’s Labor Lost.” Additionally, Patric starred in the Broadway revival of the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play “That Championship Season,” with Chris Noth, Kiefer Sutherland, Brian Cox and Jim Gaffigan, directed by Gregory Mosher. The play, originally presented in 1972, was written by Patric’s father, Jason Miller.

Season One of WAYWARD PINES ranked as Summer 2015’s No. 1 broadcast scripted series among Adults 18-49, averaging a 2.2/8 in the key demo. The series – about a Secret Service agent on a mission to find two missing federal agents in a sleepy Northwest town, and the shocking results of his investigation – ranked among Summer 2015’s Top 10 broadcast programs overall among Adults 18-49. The series earned a multi-platform average audience of 9.4 million, which represents a +145% increase versus its Live+Same Day audience – the largest multi-platform lift versus Live+Same Day ever for a FOX drama.

WAYWARD PINES is a production of 20th Century Fox Television. The series is executive-produced by Donald De Line (“Green Lantern,” “The Italian Job”), Ashwin Rajan (“Devil,” “The Visit”), Blake Crouch and M. Night Shyamalan. Mark Friedman (“Believe,” “The Forgotten”) also serves as executive producer and showrunner.

[Source: Deadline