Franka Potente is coming to House.

The German-born actress - who appeared on the big screen in The Bourne Identity and guest-starred on season six of The Shield - will appear in the two-hour season premiere, which is entirely based in the mental hospital in which House now resides.

House executive producer David Shore told E! Online of the opening episode:

"Those two hours take place basically exclusively within the institution" over a period of six months, as everyone's favorite damaged doctor tries to recover from the hallucinations that crippled him at the end last season.

Word has leaked out that the actress' character and House will get to know each other VERY well while in the asylum.

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