In a hero ready to come back from the dead?

According to Entertainment Weekly, it's been confirmed that Robert Forster is set to Nathan and Peter's presumed-deceased father, Arthur Petrelli.

Considering the show's penchant for time travel, there's no telling if viewers will see Arthur in the present or via flashbac - or even during one of Hiro's fun excursions. Another unknown: whether Arthur will use his powers for good or evil.

Rumors of Arthur's possible appearance this season have been burning up the Web for months. While it's not clear when Forster will first show up, at press tour last month, his on-screen widow, Cristine Rose, hinted  that a bombshell would be dropped in the two-hour premiere on September 22.

"There's a secret that comes out that if you're a true fan, you're just going to die," the portrayer of the Petrelli matriarch said . "It's a good Angela secret, and it's [not about] her powers."

Forster has appeared in movies such as Lucky Number Slevin and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.

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