MAJOR SPOILER ALERT: Stop reading right now if you wish to remain in the dark regarding a key storyline on The Following Season 2.

Natalie Zea has confirmed to William Keck of TV Guide Magazine that she will reprise the role of Claire Matthews next year... although she came close to turning down a new deal.

"My concern, and [series creator] Kevin Williamson's concern, was always, is there more story to tell with Claire?" Zea said. "And we both discovered that maybe there wasn't."

So what changed between the end of The Following Season 1, which concluded with both Claire and Ryan Hardy being stabbed, and now?

Fox executives were apparently unhappy with the initial plan of killing Claire off and convinced both the actress and producers to keep her around. In what capacity? That much is uncertain.

But you can be sure we'll ask when on the red carpet with The Following cast members next week at Comic-Con!

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