‘The Americans’ To End Run With Two-Season Final Renewal By FX

FX’s praised Cold War spy drama The Americans is getting an end date. The network has given the series, now airing its fourth season, a pickup for two more seasons, a 13-episode Season 5 to air in 2017 and 10-episode sixth and final season to air in 2018.

Additionally, FX Productions, which co-produces The Americans with Fox 21 TV Studios, has closed new overall deals with executive producers/co-showrunners Joe Weisberg, who created the series, and Joel Fields to develop their next show.

“Through its first four seasons, critics have lauded The Americans as one of the best shows on television and, remarkably, a series that keeps getting better every year,” said FX’s president of original programming Eric Schrier. “We have no doubt that this two-season order will allow Joe and Joel to tell this story to its perfect conclusion.”

Added Fox 21 president Bert Salke, “While we are already mourning the eventual end, we are grateful to FX for this generous two-season pickup that enables the show to go out on its own terms and gives the creators time to craft a final stretch as satisfying as the show itself.”

While The Americans has been lauded by critics throughout its run as one of the best dramas on TV, the series has been largely overlooked by the Emmys except for a best guest actress trophy won by Margo Martindale. (It has won TCA, Critics’ Choice and Peabody drama series awards.) The period drama starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys also has been a very modest ratings performer, helped a bit by solid DVR gains.

“It’s hard to believe we’re heading into the final stretch on The Americans, and we’re so grateful to know we’ll be telling the story to its conclusion,” said Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg. “It’s a lot of people putting their hearts and souls into The Americans, at this point for a lot of years. We’re looking forward to the final two.”

Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields executive produce alongside Graham Yost, Chris Long and Stephen Schiff , along with Amblin Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. Joshua Brand is consulting Producer. The Americans is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.