It looks like Bluebell will have a couple of new residents when "Hart of Dixie" returns this fall for its third season. The charming Southern town will see the return of one resident as a permanent fixture as well as welcome at least two new visitors.
TVLine confirmed that actress Kaitlyn Black (Annabeth) was promoted to series regular for the upcoming season. "I'm overjoyed to be joining such a talented cast and extremely grateful to be part of the CW family," Black told the publication.
Show creator Leila Gerstein added, "Kaitlyn started off with one line, and we fell in love with her. Her part has grown and grown as the writing staff has become more enraptured with Annabeth (and Kaitlyn). And, at this point, she has become so integral to the series-as Lemon's best friend, as Lavon's girlfriend, and as Zoe's confidante-that we needed to make sure she was all ours!"
Speaking of AB and her beau Lavon, TVLine also reported that someone from his family is creating quite the bit of tension between the lovely couple. The twosome is "still happily together," Gerstein told TVLine, "but having some tension because his demanding cousin has moved in." And who will play the troublemaking cousin? None other than Antoinette Robertson (Lynly), whose character is described as "beautiful yet spoiled and clueless."
Robertson isn't the only addition to the "Dixie" family. On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that "Dexter" actor Josh Cooke nabbed a recurring role in the medical drama's upcoming season. Cooke will play Joel, who is described as "a New Yorker who finds himself a fish out of water in Bluebell." Joel will first show up in the tiny Alabama town during the season premiere.
"Hart of Dixie" season 3 premieres on October 7 at 8 p.m. on The CW.