As far as 24 spoiler and casting notes go, it doesn't get any more excited than the addition of Katee Sackhoff to the series.

Season eight can't arrive quickly enough, though we're at least encouraged by signs that Fox is hyping the show to no end... already.

While the new season doesn't premiere until January, the network has released the following press release, outlining its plot and characters in detail:

Season Eight will unfold in New York City amidst the shadows of the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations. In this new day, CTU has been upgraded and is run by MBA-schooled and razor-sharp head honcho BRIAN HASTINGS (Mykelti Williamson). COLE ORTIZ (Freddie Prinze Jr.), an ex-Marine who wants to follow in JACK BAUER’s footsteps, runs the division’s Field Operations.

Expert data analyst DANA WALSH (Katee Sackhoff) collaborates with systems analyst ARLO GLASS (John Boyd inside CTU. ROB WEISS (Chris Diamantopoulos) serves as PRESIDENT ALLISON TAYLOR’s (Cherry Jones) new chief of staff, and MEREDITH REED (Jennifer Westfeldt) is an ambitious journalist with ties to the unfolding situation.

As previously announced, Sutherland, Jones, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Annie Wersching also return. In addition, Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor (“Slumdog Millionaire”) makes his American TV debut as OMAR HASSAN, a Middle Eastern leader who comes to the U.S. on a peacemaking mission.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.