LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC's sci-fi drama "Heroes" is casting a wide net for next season, hiring six people, including "Alias" veteran David Anders, for recurring roles.

Anders will play the most intriguing part, that of the ancient samurai warrior Takezo Kensei, Hiro Nakamura's (Masi Oka) childhood hero. Hiro spent most of the first season trying to get a hold of Kensei's sword, which he hoped would help him in his quest to save the world.

Anders, who played Julian Sark on ABC's "Alias," recently did a multiepisode arc on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy."

In another Japanese connection, pop star and actress Eriko Tamura will play a Japanese princess. Tamura has starred in more than 15 Japanese features and TV series and has released 10 albums there. She made her English-language debut in the 2006 feature "Surf School."

Also, Barry Shabaka Henley will play Detective Fuller, a New York police officer. Holt McCallany will play Ricky, the ringleader of a group of Irish thugs. Henley next appears in the feature "The Horsemen," while McCallany next appears in the feature "Vantage Point."

Additionally, Lyndsy Fonseca (HBO's "Big Love") and Dianna Agron (the CW's "Veronica Mars") will play beautiful cheerleaders in Southern California, where Claire (Hayden Panettiere) is expected to move. Fonseca's character April is sweet, while Agron's Debbie is a mean girl.