FX renews Archer for 3 more seasons: Will the real espionage detective be resurrected?

Fans of the alcohol-swigging, air-head spy/detective Sterling Archer (voiced by H Jon Benjamin) have a reason to celebrate. The animated show has been renewed for another three seasons by FX.

Season 7 ended on a dramatic note, with the real Archer dead and the "other" Archer revealing that he is a robot. With a finale like that, fans were unsure if the detective and his team had a future on television. But FX made the announcement (pretty late) that the Adam Reed-created show would not only make it to season 8, but also seasons 9 and 10.

"We can't say enough about what Adam, Matt and the entire Archer team at Floyd County have done to keep this series so insanely funny and vital through seven seasons," said Nick Grad, president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions.

"The move to Los Angeles this past season as private detectives was just the latest twist in Archer's legendary exploits and the next three seasons will to be just as amazing and unpredictable. We are thrilled to continue making great TV with our friends and colleagues at Floyd County."

Meanwhile, Indiewire has speculated that the series's writer Adam Reed would need to resurrect the "real" Archer if the show has to go on. "The answer will tell us something, no matter how major or minor, about how we'll see Sterling Archer moving forward — an immortal legend, or a ego-driven human — and how far an animated cable comedy is capable of going," the analysis of season 7 read. After all, how are Malory and Lana supposed to deal with a show sans their lead detective?

The big question remains as to how Reed plans to go about bringing Archer back, considering the protagonist was shot in the gut and then floated in a pool of water for a number of hours.

Floyd County Productions, the company behind the show, has also signed a new umbrella deal with FX Networks.

Season 8 of Archer will premiere in early 2017.