Syfy Channel’s new super-powered drama series ‘Alphas’ will return for a second season that will air in 2012. ‘Alphas’ was a breakout hit this past summer during its first season and Syfy has ordered 13 episodes for the second season.

The series debuted on July 11th and became Syfy’s most-watched original scripted series premiere in two years. To date, premiere episodes which air Monday nights at 10PM ET/PT have averaged 3.3 million total viewers (including all available Live +7 DVR data). ‘Alphas’ also scored impressive numbers with on demand viewers averaging over 240,000 plays within 7 days per episode. The series is also Syfy’s most popular series in digital downloads.

Alphas follows a clandestine group of ordinary people whose unique neurological condition equips them with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Led by preeminent neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Lee Rosen (Emmy Award-winner and Academy Award-nominee) David Strathairn (‘Temple Grandin’, ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’) and operating within the Defense Department, the team investigates cases involving other Alpha activity. The ensemble cast also stars Malik Yoba (‘New York Undercover’, ‘Why Did I Get Married?’), Warren Christie (‘October Road’), Azita Ghanizada (‘Castle’), Ryan Cartwright (‘Bones’), and Laura Mennell (‘Watchmen’). Valerie Cruz (‘True Blood’, ‘Dollhouse’) is a recurring guest star.

Notable guest stars this season include Summer Glau (‘Firefly’, ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’), Garret Dillahunt (‘Raising Hope’), Lindsay Wagner (‘The Bionic Woman’), Brent Spiner (‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’), and Rebecca Mader (‘Lost’) on September 12th and John Pyper Ferguson (‘Caprica’) on September 26th.

Created by Zak Penn (‘X2’, ‘Fantastic Four’, ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’) and Michael Karnow (‘Time Squad’), ‘Alphas’ is a production of Universal Cable Productions and BermanBraun Television.