Syfy Renews ‘Face Off’ For Fifth Season

Syfy has renewed its special effects makeup competition series Face Off for a fifth season.

Production for the next round of the series will begin next month for a summer launch, the network announced Monday.

“Face Off continues to prove itself as a ratings hit, earning critical and viewer accolades alike, and we are proud to bring the series back for another stunning season,” Mark Stern,president of original content at Syfy and co-head of original content at Universal Cable Productions, said.

The fourth season of the competition premiered on January 15, 2013 and wraps up March 26. This season has averaged 2.7 million viewers in Live+7 ratings, and 1.6 million adults in the 18-49 demographic.

The next episode, which will air on March 19, will be inspired by the upcoming Syfy series Defiance, which premieres April 15.

Defiance is both an original series and a multi-platform video game, and the first example of the convergence of television and online gaming. In Tuesday’s spotlight challenge, the four remaining artists will have to create the offspring of two aliens from the Defiance universe. They will visit the Defiance set in Toronto and meet with the cast and crew before heading back to Los Angeles. Director Michael Nankin will be a special guest judge when the contestants reveal their creations.

Defiance stars Grant Bowler (Ugly Betty), Julie Benz (Dexter), and Tony Curran (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). The video game will be released for Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on April 2.

Current Face Off judges Glenn Hetrick, Ve Neill, and Neville Page will be returning for the fifth season. McKenzie Westmore will be returning to host the show and her father, renowned makeup artist Michael Westmore, will also be returning as a mentor.

Are you excited for a fifth season of Face Off? Who are your favorite artists from past seasons?