It’s hard to believe that production for Season 5 of Lost is starting in 12 days. With the gear-up of production comes the trickling of casting news. The first Lost news this year regards 2 new characters, Caesar and Ilana.

Caesar is described as “a dangerous, physical and extremely intelligent male between the ages of 35 and 45. Although his intentions are unclear, this much is certain: He’s as skillful at charming people as he is at killing them. He also has a dark past…”

As for Ilanna, she’s “a European female in her late 20s to early 30s who possesses great intelligence, but who’s also dangerous as all get out. She’s alluring and apparently used to getting her own way.”

Jeff Jensen at EW, where the scoop comes from, points out that Caesar was the name of the primate who led the revolt against the humans in Planet of the Apes. Could Lost’s Caesar be Ben’s predecessor as leader of the Others, who ordered the gassing of the Dharma Initiative?

I love good casting news. First yesterday’s announcement of Jon Voight coming to 24, and today we get more good news for another great show.

Oscar winner William Hurt will be coming to FX’s legal drama, Damages. I genuinely feel that this show is not only the greatest summer show I’ve ever seen, but also simply one of the best dramas on television. And I love William Hurt’s work and can’t wait to see what he’ll bring to the show. No word yet on what his role will be, but it’s rumored that he will share both a professional and personal past with Patty Hewes.

Damages returns to production on June 24, looking to an early 2009 release.

Some news comes across the wire today about casting for the third season of Heroes.

The newest actor to hop onto the NBC comic-book drama is Jamie Hector. He’s had bit roles in several programs, including the memorable role of “Pedestrian” in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. His largest role is that of Marlo ‘Black’ Stanfield in HBO’s The Wire.

Heroes is still at the mercy of the strike, however, so no telling on when this will actually be, or what kind of role he’ll be playing.

(Source: CBR News)