'Hell On Wheels' Season 3 picked up without two key players

AMC has picked up its hit series "Hell On Wheels" for a third season, Deadline reported on Monday. The Western series, which stars Anson Mount and Common, averaged 2.4 million viewers in its second season.

The show will, however, go on without bosses Joe and Tony Gayton, the creators who served as executive producers for the first two seasons. Their contracts expired at the end of Season 2, and they will now step down as far as day-to-day show running is concerned. They may remain on board in consulting positions.

The 10-episode third season will certainly be an interesting one, particularly given the bloodbath of the Season 2 finale, which saw several characters killed off -- not to mention several key sets burned down.