LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The 2006-07 season is barely over and the broadcast networks announced their fall schedules only a week ago, but buzz has started about new characters being added to returning hits next season and roles being recast on the newly picked-up rookie shows.

NBC's "Heroes," which wrapped its freshman season with an explosive finale Monday, is rumored to be introducing at least four new, mostly international, characters next season, among them a sexy boyfriend for everyone's favorite cheerleader, Claire (Hayden Panettiere).

Also potentially joining the cast of characters on "Heroes" next season are a 28-year-old black mother, a surrogate for Niki's (Ali Larter) son, an Irish mobster and a twentysomething Latina. It is believed that most of these characters will only do arcs on the show rather than become regulars.