"The Good Wife" is welcoming back another familiar face for season five.
According to TVLine, Nathan Lane is returning to the CBS hit to reprise his role as trustee Clarke Hayden, a role that earned him an Emmy nomination. Clarke will return to help Cary (Matt Czuchry) and Alicia (Julianna Margulies) start their new law firm.
Nathan Lane is the latest actor to return to the series since it was announced that Stockard Channing is reprising her role of Veronica, Alicia's mother.
The fifth season will also showcase a storyline inspired by true events. TVGuide reports that a story arc will focus on a case inspired by a real sexual harassment lawsuit brought against the writer's of "Friends" by a former writer's assistant in 2004.
"Lockhart/Gardner gets in trouble," co-creator Robert King said. "One of their paralegals sues the firm for sexually harassing her and the firm unfortunately can't represent itself. So, over David Lee's objections, they go to Elsbeth Tascioni [Emmy winner Carrie Preston] to try to defend them."
Another major lawsuit in season five will focus on the highly controversial National Security Agency.
New photos show a lawsuit between Alicia and Cary and the NSA. Alicia and Cary will sue the governmental agency on behalf of the search engine Chumhum. But in doing so, Lockhart Gardner will become subject to invasive spying by the governmental agency. "Arrested Development's" Jeffrey Tambor will also appear as a judge during the court proceedings.
Stockard Channing is also featured in the episode. Although Veronica has good intentions, Alicia may not always want to follow her mother's advice. The NSA episode will air on October 6.
Some new faces will also be joining the series. Ben Rappaport ("Outsourced") will play Carey, Alicia and Cary's new colleague. Rappaport's character will join Alicia and Cary once Florrick, Argos & Associates gets rolling.
Talia Balsam ("Homeland," "Mad Men") will also be joining the show as a political journalist, along with Melissa George of "Hunted" and "Alias," who will assume the recurring role of Marilyn, Governor Florrick's in-house ethics counsel. America Ferrera, John Noble and Gary Cole will also reappear on the series.
"The Good Wife" returns to CBS on September 29.