Just days after FX drama 'Sons of Anarchy' confirmed that late season 5 villain Lee Toric (Donal Logue) would indeed return for the show's sixth season, the Kurt Sutter-fronted biker saga has shored up another major player for season 6. Having appeared repeatedly in the fifth season, Jimmy Smits and his character Neron "Nero" Padilla will indeed return for season 6, but in a surprising capacity. Get the scoop on Nero's return for 'Sons of Anarchy' season 6 inside!

Sons of Anarchy's fifth season finale "J'ai Obtenu Cette" made it clear that Nero Padilla represented an important, ongoing presence in both SAMCRO and Gemma Teller-Morrow (Katey Sagal)'s lives, though at the time of the finale, series creator and sometime-star Kurt Sutter admitted actor Jimmy Smits might not be available for season 6.

Now it seems 'Sons of Anarchy' season 6 is strumming a different tune altogether, as we've learned via TVLine that Smits will indeed reprise the character in season 6, surprisingly appearing in all 13 episodes of the motorcycle drama! Though not technically billed as a series regular for the season, all 13 episodes is a far cry from what Sutter outlined at the end of last season.

Still unconfirmed is the involvement of Billy Blanks' character August Marks, whom Sutter also cautioned might not be available for the sixth season. Last year, Sutter told reporters the next batch of episodes would likely open a few weeks ahead in the story, the weight of the season 5 finale's events still fresh. Ron Perlman’s Clay Morrow will remain a fixture despite his character's incarceration, while much of Clay’s season 6 arc will see the disgraced SAMCRO president coming to terms with being betrayed, and ultimately “doomed" by a price on his head.

Well, what say you? Are you happy Jimmy Smits' Nero will return for 'Sons of Anarchy' season 6? Where would you like to see the story of SAMCRO go next?

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