Hayden Panettiere gets two new roommates on “Heroes”

Hayden Panettiere is going to college! Well… Claire Bennet, that is, her character on “Heroes”.

Claire will be starting freshman college this fall at a Washington DC school, as part of her story line for “Heroes” volume 5 (Redemption). Tim Kring spoils that the new season of “Heroes” is all about the characters returning to a normal life, after the chaos of Fugitives. And more, according to Tim, Claire will figure prominently next season as she begins college life. Yey, more Hayden!!!

Can you imagine Claire in college? Taking classes in huge lecture halls, being in a dorm, having a room mate, college parties, and frat boys! Well, Claire IS going to have two new room mates, actually. “Heroes” first reported that “Californication” co-star Madeline Zima was cast to play Claire Bennet’s roommate Gretchen, described as an edgy outsider. I wonder what her influence on Claire will be.

Madeline Zima and Rachel Melvin cast as two of Claire Bennet’s roommates on “Heroes: Redemption”. Images: Newscom

This weekend, Hollywood Reporter revealed that “Days of Our Lives” co-star Rachel Melvin will guest-star in a potentially recurring role as Annie, as the other roommate of Claire. I wonder what the writers are up to.

Supposedly, Claire will attempt to regain normalcy in her life, but that will be difficult to do partly because her adoptive parents Noah (Jack Coleman) and Sandra (Ashley Crow) are going through divorce. And then, Claire gets in the crossfire of a mysterious campus suicide! I don’t want to sound gross, but do you think one of these roommates will be victim of that ill-fated tragedy?

“Heroes” will return this fall on Mondays, with an earlier time-slot at 8:00 pm, for 18-20 uninterrupted episodes. It should be great watching Hayden Panettiere on TV again!