It's clobberin' time in Gotham City.
TVLine reports that the Fox series Gotham has cast Michael Chiklis as Captain Nathaniel Barnes, a new series regular for Season 2.
Barnes, a new character created for the series, is described in the article as someone who "lands on the GCPD like a tornado, ripping out the dead wood of Gotham’s police force. He is a law and order zealot; unafraid of making enemies – on either side of the law. For Gordon (Ben McKenzie), Barnes is a hero and a mentor, someone with whom he can share the burden of heroism. Captain Barnes proves himself to be a strong ally to Gordon…but one day he will make an equally powerful enemy."
Chiklis, 51, is no stranger to comic book projects, having appeared as The Thing in the two Fantastic Four films directed by Tim Story, and as Jim Powell on the superhero TV series No Ordinary Family. In addition, he's known for his roles as Detective Vic Mackey on The Shield, Dell Toledo on American Horror Story: Freak Show, and as Curly Howard in the Three Stooges TV movie.
During the Gotham panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that Season 2 is about "the rise of the villains," and will explore "what Gotham can give birth to when people start to feel power within themselves and don’t feel the urge to answer to morality."
"As the villains rise, there’s an arms race, and the good guys have to increase their force as well," said Ben McKenzie at SDCC. "There’ll be new heroes introduced."
Some other Gotham Season 2 tidbits from SDCC...
Camren Bicondova said that Selina Kyle is "trying to figure out where she stands, whether she’s a bad guy or good guy," which will show viewers "a big part of her background."
Sean Pertwee remarked that "more of a contract is being drawn" between his character Alfred Pennyworth and young Bruce Wayne with the uncovering of his father's secret cave, resulting in a "more adult relationship out of mutual respect and understanding."
As for Jim Gordon's ex-fiancee Barbara Kean, executive producer Danny Cannon said that "She’s the crazy ex-girlfriend from hell, but she also becomes a woman in full in her own right. It’s a story of insanity, but also fulfilling your potential."
Gotham returns to Fox for Season 2 on September 21, 2015.