‘Nip/Tuck’ Creator to Remain With Show for 2 More Seasons

The third season of FX’s “Nip/Tuck” won’t begin airing until the fall, but one of last season’s cliffhangers has been resolved: Creator Ryan Murphy has agreed to stay with the edgy plastic surgery drama for two more seasons.

Despite the show’s success -- it was the No. 1 original basic cable show among the advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-old demographic group -- Murphy had said in October that he might have to leave to make time to direct his first feature film.

On Tuesday, John Landgraf, FX president of entertainment, ended months of hand-wringing among the show’s cultish fans when he announced the renewal of Murphy’s contract.

Murphy, 40, will film his movie, “Running With Scissors,” in March and begin production on “Nip/Tuck” in the summer.

The second season ended in October, when a masked serial rapist known as the Carver plunged a knife into surgeon Christian Troy, played by Julian McMahon. The episodes, which drew huge ratings for a cable show, left viewers to wonder whether one of the show’s two leading men was dead.

“Because of the finale’s ratings, I felt the show had room to grow, which is a rare thing, and I wanted to come back and be a part of that,” Murphy said. “People loved that last episode so much that it made me think I did have more stories to tell.”

News Corp.’s FX and Warner Bros. Television also agreed to invest more money into the show, which revolves around two self-involved plastic surgeons. Murphy will receive an undisclosed raise and will raise the salaries of the cast and crew. All of the show’s writers, producers and cast will return for the third season, Murphy said.

Will Christian Troy survive?

“All I will say is that I believe in ghosts,” teased Murphy.