CBS' "The Good Wife" is bringing back a character from the dead. (Well, sort of.)
John Noble is coming back to the set of "The Good Wife" to reprise his role as Alicia's murdered client Matthew Ashbaugh.
TVLine reports that the "Fringe" alum will return next season as the character, who appeared in flashbacks last season.
Seeing as the show doesn't incorporate supernatural elements, Matthew will obviously remain dead. This lends support to the idea that the eccentric Matthew will appear in Alicia's (Juliana Margulies) flashbacks, which may lead to a new storyline.
Next season of "The Good Wife" will also feature Talia Balsam, who will be joining the show early on in the new season as a political journalist. Balsam is known for her roles on "Mad Men" and "Homeland." Balsam plays the ex-wife of ad man Roger Sterling on "Mad Men," who is played by John Slattery, to whom she is married in real life. Balsam also played the wife of the Vice President on "Homeland."
In addition to Balsam, Melissa George of "Alias" has joined the show to assume the recurring role of Marilyn, who is the in-house ethics counsel for Governor Florrick.
Zach Grenier, who plays David Lee, has also been upped to a series regular. Gary Cole, America Ferrera and Emmy-nominated Carrie Preston are also returning.
While Grenier was upped to series regular, it was revealed that another character may not be staying on the CBS hit. Josh Charles, who plays Will Gardner on the show, signed a new deal last spring to continue playing Will, but it is only for one year. Producers of the show know that season five could be his last.
TVLine reports that executive producer Robert King said that he is prepared for the possibility of Charles staying or leaving, despite the changes that would create in the storyline.
"We can turn things pretty fast if we need to," King said about the show's direction.
Charles is the only cast member of the series who did not sign a long term contract.
King understands Charles' ambivalence. "It's what Josh is about. He's someone who wants to always explore different sides of himself," King explained. "And how [season five] goes helps him decide what he wants to do. That sounds like there's some contentiousness in our relationship. There's not. Josh is one of the friendliest and nicest actors I've met. Anything that is contractual stays with the agents."
The fifth season will pick up with Alicia and Cary (Matt Czuchry) ready to walk out the door of Lockhart Gardner.
TVLine reports that Margulies said Alicia is "leaving the law firm because she knows if she stays there, in her peripheral vision will always be Will... In her heart of hearts, she thinks [leaving is] the smart move."
"The Good Wife" season five airs on CBS on September 29.