Although we have all known for about a month that season 2 of Masters of Horror had been given the green light today brought the official confirmation of that fact.  Read below for the entire press release:

Showtime Networks has ordered a second season of IDT Entertainment’s critically acclaimed anthology series, MASTERS OF HORROR, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.  Thirteen new, one-hour episodes, to be produced by IDT Entertainment, will feature the most prominent and exciting directors in the horror genre and will premiere in Fall 2006.

The first season, which USA Today called “a horror hall of fame,” premiered on SHOWTIME in Fall 2005 and featured such horror film notables as Dario Argento (“Suspiria,” “Opera”), John Carpenter (“Halloween,” “The Thing”), Larry Cohen (“It’s Alive”), Don Coscarelli (“Phantasm,” “Bubba Ho-tep”), Joe Dante (“The Howling,” “Gremlins”), Mick Garris (“Riding the Bullet,” “The Stand”), Stuart Gordon (“Re-Animator”), John Landis (“An American Werewolf in London”), Tobe Hooper (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Poltergeist”) William Malone (“FeardotCom”), Lucky McKee (“May”) and John McNaughton (“Henry:  Portrait of a Serial Killer”) directing original one-hour films. 

“Showtime has been a wonderful partner,” says IDT Entertainment COO John W. Hyde.  “We look forward to providing the world’s leading horror filmmakers a supportive environment in which they can express their creative vision.”

“We are delighted to once again be working with some of the most talented directors and writers in the horror genre,” said Showtime’s Greenblatt.  ”This unique series offers viewers a one-of-a kind experience and demonstrates the immense popularity of the horror genre.”

Masters of Horror grew out of an informal bi-monthly dinner attended by many of the horror genre’s most highly regarded directors. Mick Garris transformed their collective desire to work together into reality, and will continue to serve as the series’ showrunner.