Heroes Volume 4 in 2009, Volume 3 Ending Revealed, Casting, Someone Dies — SPOILERS!!

A couple of Heroes news stories for you today, which will probably be our last post until Monday in deference to the long upcoming Thanksgiving weekend and all. Let’s begin: For those wondering, once Heroes’ current Volume 3 “Villains” storyline concludes with the December 15 episode “Duality” (formerly “War”), any hope of seeing a new Heroes episode won’t happen until February 2009, according to NBC’s latest press release, which has both Heroes and Chuck being temporarily replaced on the January schedule by a couple of new shows: Superstars of Dance and Momma’s Boys. The first is a dance competition show, and the latter is some kind of reality TV show produced by Ryan Seacrest of American Idol fame. Yeah, I guess that means no NBC for me in January.

I’m not sure exactly when Heroes Volume 4 “Fugitives” will commence (or if it’ll be preceded by reruns of the current season when it returns in February), but in any case, once “Duality” premieres, it’ll be a while before we get any new Heroes episodes. Mark your calendars for February.

Meanwhile, on the topic of Heroes Volume 3, Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman) recently revealed a BIG SPOILER to Kristin over at E! Online about what to expect in the episode “Duality”, which will end in one of those mega cliffhangers that will have fans of the show salivating to find out what happens next. And oh yeah, expect more deaths.

One of [the heroes] will die soon, and personally, it’s not who I was hoping for! (This death also puts an end to a new love story as we know it.) However, I’m also hearing that the powers that be may be doing some more thorough house-cleaning among the Heroes cast, thanks to a little Lost-like catastrophe at the end of the current “Villains” volume. Last night at the Christmas Tree Lighting at the Grove (an outdoor shopping mecca here in L.A.), Greg Grunberg spilled to me: “There’s a huge plane crash, and all of us are involved…I’ll tell you this, it’s not Oceanic 815, and I’m not in the pilot seat. It’s a little different.” Get more details in the spoiler section!

Later on in the column, she adds:

More on that big ol’ plane crash: I’m told Hunter (Zeljko Ivanek, pictured, above right) captures many of our favorite Heroes and loads them onto a transport plane. (Think prisoners heading to Guantánamo Bay.) When the plane goes down, “You don’t know who survives,” says Grunny. When asked if Angela Petrelli would be joining their nondirty “mile-high club,” Cristine Rose tells me, “I’m getting old, I don’t see myself parachuting.” So could that be how some of our Heroes survive? More importantly, did the plane go down because Desmond forgot to key in the numbers in the Hatch?

Looks like Tim Kring really is “cleaning house”. I just hope it’s not another typical Heroes “death” — you know, the kind where people don’t stay dead? Seriously, the whole concept of death on Heroes has become something of a joke.

On the casting front, One Tree Hill actress Moira Kelly (pictured, left) will be joining Heroes Season 3 in Volume 4 as a Homeland Security agent, along with Dan Byrd from Aliens in America. What, they couldn’t get Clea DuVall to reprise her role of Audrey Hanson?

Anyways, again from Kristin:

Sources spill that One Tree Hill and West Wing alum Moira Kelly will be playing Abby Collins, a Homeland Security agent, in at least one episode of the “Fugitives” volume (the next chunk of episodes in the current third season). We happy about this? Do tell in the comments below.

• In case you haven’t heard, Dan Byrd of Aliens in America has a recurring role in “Fugitives,” and I can spill that his character Luke’s power is microwaves that are strong enough fry people. Luke goes on the road with Sylar seeking adventure and excitement, but poor unlucky kid’s probably just going to get debrained for his trouble.

So there you have it. For those who celebrate Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving! For those who don’t — enjoy the rest of your week!

Added

Reader Dante sent me this image from an upcoming episode (he isn’t sure, but he thinks it could be the “Our Father” episode, the second to last episode in Volume 3), of what looks like one of our heroes having bit the dust for good. Well, as “for good” as it ever gets on Heroes, anyway.

Looks like it’s bye-bye, Elle, although some thinks this could be Ali. Proof that it’s Elle include: HRG was taking aim at Elle and Sylar in the last episode; and Elle is wearing the same shirt in a promo for next week’s “The Eclipse Part 2″ episode:

Cast/Crew Updates . Heroes Season 3 Spoilers/News . Heroes TV Show News