Showtime Orders up Homeland and House of Lies

Showtime is adding two more original series to its lineup.

The cable channel announced Thursday it had ordered a 12-episode season of the drama Homeland, starring Claire Danes, and the comedy House of Lies, starring Don Cheadle. Both series will begin production in the summer.

"Homeland and House of Lies are audacious in both their concept and their casting," Showtime chief David Nevins said in a statement. "They build upon the network's successful pedigree and expand the definition of what a Showtime series can be."

It's Showtime for Kristen Bell on House of Lies

In the psychological thriller Homeland, CIA officer Carrie Anderson (Danes) is suspicious about the intel that led to the rescue of U.S. solider Scott Brody (Damian Lewis), presumed dead for nine years. Is it possible that this is an elaborate setup connected to an Al Qaeda plot? Mandy Patinkin will also star.

The half-hour comedy House of Lies is based on the tell-all book House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Tell You the Time and centers on Marty (Cheadle), who is a ruthless as he is successful. Kristen Bell co-stars as a sharp Ivy-League graduate working at his firm. Ben Schwartz, Josh Lawson, Dawn Oliveri, Glynn Turman and Donis Leonard Jr. will also star.