FOX’s Gotham has begun upgrading its cast in recent weeks, a troubling prospect for an already-overstuffed DC drama, but the latest move might prove the series’ wisest yet. Chris Chalk will reprise his role as Bat-ally Lucius Fox when Gotham picks up for Season 2, this time as a series regular.

TVLine confirmed Homeland and The Newsroom star Chalk’s ascension to series regular, following similar contract options from Nicholas D’Agosto’s Harvey Dent, and Morena Baccarin’s Dr. Leslie Thompkins. Chalk appeared as Lucius Fox in a far more limited Season 1 capacity than the other two, but seemingly holds the most logical place in a young Bruce Wayne’s upbringing.

And hey, given how Lucius seemed to help Bruce toward clearing his father’s name, maybe Lucius knows something about that mysterious cavern behind the fireplace …

Elsewhere, we know of Gotham Season 2 that producers will to incorporate such Bat-baddies as Clayface, the Mad Hatter, Mr. Freeze, Hugo Strange, Tommy Elliot, and potentially even the Court of Owls, while early episodes will serve as a “pre-embryonic” (sigh) origin story for the Joker. Season 2 will also feature Bruce crafting his more public billionaire persona for use later in his Bat-career, while still continually investigating his parents’ murder, and Jada Pinkett’s Fish Mooney has left the series.

The Bat-drama is also looking to cast two new villainous roles for the year, a “male DC villain” described concisely as “intelligent, cultured and highly articulate […] extremely attractive, both seductive and threatening,” as well as a female mid-to-late 20s “sexy knock-out.” Any guesses?

Gotham Season 2 will return on Mondays this fall, but is an expanded role for Lucius Fox a sign of improvement? How else might FOX’s Bat-drama overcome a shaky start in Season 1?

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