“24” dominated television casting news in the first weeks after the end of the television season, but with almost all major roles for the show’s eighth season filled, the opportunity arose for another show to make headlines. NBC’s “Heroes,” which returns for season four next year, took advantage.
The three-name casting update for the NBC sci-fi drama includes two roommates for Claire Bennett (Hayden Panettiere) and a brand new villain.
Madeline Zima (“Californication”) and Rachel Melvin (“Days of our Lives”) have signed on for multiple episode runs as roommates for the character once known as “the cheerleader.” Melvin’s character might be bumped to recurring once her run concludes.
Meanwhile, “Prison Break” star Robert Knepper will appear in at least six episodes as a villain with a twisted sense of humor. Casting calls for the Knepper role had identified the character as “Carnival Barker.”
“40s-60s, male. Charming character with an evil sense of humor, think Eddie Izzard or The Joker without his makeup …minimal at first… to become large recur RECURRING GUEST STAR/THIS ROLE WILL BE IN SEVERAL EPISODES,” said the breakdown.