Boardwalk Empire is only three episodes in to season four, but HBO have decided the people want more, and have ordered a fifth season of the stylish prohibition drama. Deadline had the scoop, and the statement to go with it.

Boardwalk EmpireBoardwalk Empire Will Return For Season 5

“Thanks to Terry Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Howard Korder and their stellar team, Boardwalk Empire remains in a class by itself,” said Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming in a statement Thursday. “I look forward to another electrifying season of this impeccably crafted series.”

This season has seen Nucky take a more reserved role after his run in with Gyp Rossetti last time out, a conflict that earned Bobby Cannivale an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting actor. The series has also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama in 2011 and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2011 and 2012.

With a huge, ranging cast full of super-talented individuals – Steve Buscemi plays the lead while Stephen Graham fulfils the fans’ favourite, Al Capone – and a thick, intricately woven plot, the Terence Winter drama has all the facets of a HBO classic.

Critically, the show has been received well, even if it hasn’t hit the heights of other small screen behemoths like The Wire, The Sopranos or the soon-to-climax Breaking Bad. Metascore has it pinned down at 88, 81, 76 and 76 out of 100 for each season respectively.

Ron LivingstonJeffrey Wright
New additions: Ron Livingston (L) and Jeffrey Wright (R) star in the fourth season of the show

A recent addition to the cast is Patricia Arquette. The True Romance actress has a major recurring role, which she debuted on Sunday night’s episode: Acres of Diamonds. She runs Sally’s (her name is Sally Wheet) and is a tough, no nonsense proprietor with a sharp tongue and connections to Tampa’s big players. Jeffrey Wright (Dr. Narcisse) and Ron Livingston (Roy Phillips) are still working their way to prominence as new characters.

In addition to the new cast member, Boardwalk season four is bleeding in existing characters for larger roles. Most notably Eli Thompson’s son, Michael – played by Ben Rosenfield, who starts misbehaving and endures an unforgettable run in with Micky Doyle.

Season four, episode four airs this Sunday, 29 September.

Steve Buscemi
While Buscemi is still the lead