Heroes has become known for beefing up its cast between seasons, and this year looks to be no different. The show has already added at least five new roles to its roster for season four. What new faces will be added to the roster when the newest volume, "Redemption," begins in the Fall? To hear about the castings and details of the roles (some of which may be spoilery, so beware), just read more.

• The carnival players — The show is casting for a plot line that Entertainment Weekly likened to the HBO series Carnivale. Among the roles being cast are a knife thrower and a tattoo girl. Rumor has it that Ray Park — aka Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace — will play one of the roles in that group, though details are still under wraps.
• The big baddie — As part of the carnival story, Robert Knepper — last seen as T-bag on Prison Break — will join the cast as the carnival barker. Producers reportedly wanted an "Eddie Izzard type" for this role of Samuel, described as a "charismatic yet wicked" ringmaster.
• The love interest — Deanne Bray will join the cast for multiple episodes as a love interest for one of the main heroes. Like Bray herself, the character is deaf.
• The roommates — Off to college, Claire (Hayden Panettiere) will be joined by two new roommates. Californication's Madeline Zima will play "edgy outsider" Gretchen, while former Days of Our Lives star Rachel Melvin has signed on to play Annie, who's intriguingly said to "share sleeping quarters (and maybe more) with Claire."

What do you make of these developments? Any theories on where they'll take the show?

Photo courtesy of NBC