“City of Gods: The Fight Rages On” has been renewed for a second season after the release of its premiere episode.

The series, which is set two decades after the events in the multi-award-winning Brazilian film, premiered on Aug. 26 (Manila time) and was renewed three days later.

The film was based on the Paulo Lins novel and won many awards in 2002 and even garnered multiple nominations at the Oscars. The sequel series is released every Monday (Manila time) on HBO GO.

The six-part show stars “Rocket,” who is now a photojournalist in Copacabana and has returned to his community when a young drug dealer’s release from prison puts City of God in dispute once again.

The show features the following characters:

• Buscapé/Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) – Born and raised in City of God, Buscapé witnessed all the problems of the community. Fear of violence and an interest in photography kept him away from the fate of most young people his age. His career in photojournalism began by accident, when photos he had taken of drug dealer Li’l Zé were published. Today he lives in Copacabana and works for the newspaper he started working for, where he earns his income and helps with the expenses of his family, who still live in City of God: his mother and daughter, with whom he has a troubled relationship.
• Barbantinho (Edson Oliveira) – He has been friends with Buscapé since childhood and has become a strong voice in the City of God community. Much loved by the different groups living in the favela, he found a new purpose in the Residents’ Association after experiencing a personal tragedy. Together with Cinthia and Berenice, he has renewed the Association to bring improvements for all and plans to run for councilor.
• Berenice (Roberta Rodrigues) – She has lived in City of God for years, and long ago fled after Shaggy’s murder, but everything goes wrong after his death, and she goes through difficult times until she ends up being arrested for defending a lover and vows never to get involved with criminals again. She became a leader within the City of God and lives with her daughter and a new love, who puts everything in check when he starts flirting with crime.
• Bradock (Thiago Martins) – He was the leader of the runts during the dispute between Li’l Zé, Piauí and Knockout Ned, and became an important ally of drug dealer Curió, until he was arrested. After his release, however, he needs to regain his territory with the support of his lawyer and girlfriend Jerusa. On assuming power, Bradock initially adopts a friendly posture, but soon becomes unable to keep up the persona.
• Melonhead (Kiko Marques) – Reginaldo (Melonhead) was a corrupt police officer within the City of God, who was elected as a city councillor and went on to become Rio de Janeiro’s Secretary of Public Security. He gained popularity for his controversial statements and is running for governor, defending the family, tradition, legalization of gambling, gun ownership and zero tolerance for criminals. 
• Cinthia (Sabrina Rosa) – She is the coordinator of the cultural center in City of God, which teaches music and jiu-jitsu to children in the community. She has been through ups and downs since she was raped by Zé Pequeno and isolated herself after the trauma. 
• Jerusa/Crazy (Andréia Horta) – She is the mastermind behind her boyfriend Braddock’s drug trafficking operation. Ambitious, she negotiates the trafficker’s freedom and convinces him to seek more power and space. 
• Genivaldo Curió (Marcos Palmeira) – Controls the drug trade in City of God as a charismatic and generous leader, who only acts forcefully when necessary. He is loved by the residents for having established a period of peace in the community.
• Lígia (Eli Ferreira) – She is a journalist and activist. Her opinion pieces on urban violence have attracted international attention. After a period abroad, she decided to do an investigative report on the new owners of the drug trade, the rich and powerful, and on a new force on the rise: the militias.