Bruce Boxleitner, star of Babylon 5 and Scarecrow and Mrs King, has signed up for a recurring role in the third season of Heroes.

According to a report by Matt Ausiello at TV Guide, Boxleitner's role was originally going to be modelled after Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain, but that idea has since been reconceived. He is now expected to be sharing scenes with one of the female series regulars.

Boxleitner recently reprised his role as John Sheridan for the straight-to-DVD anthology Babylon 5: The Lost Tales, although further B5 adventures are currently in limbo.

Heroes' producers also told Ausiello that although some new characters will be introduced, the third year will focus "on the core characters from the pilot."