Not that anyone believed Adam Monroe was actually down for the permanent count when Hiro buried him alive to end season two, but David Anders recently confirmed that he’s likely to play a key role in Heroes Season Three.

“I believe so, yeah. I hope so. I know I’m going to be in one of the first six [episodes] so,” Anders told SyFy Portal’s Alan Stanley Blair at this weekend’s Eclipse event in the United Kingdom. “But after that, it’s called “Villains,” and I am an uber-villain.”

In the third volume of the series, the villains of the show will get a chance to show just how evil they can be. Among them are Adam, Angela Petrelli (Christine Rose) and 12 new characters still to be revealed. Then there’s the true, major villain of the show, of course.

“Sylar is hard to beat. Sylar’s eyebrows alone…” Anders said, adding another comment about his character. “Adam is just misunderstood. ‘When God wasn’t happy with what he’d created he made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights. He just washed it all away.’ I love my lines.”

Did David Anders know he’d be playing a dual role on Heroes when he signed up for the part?

That was one of many questions asked of the actor by BuddyTV. Here are excerpts from the interview:

When you first auditioned, what did you know? We assume they wanted to keep the twist that you’re also Kensei and Adam Monroe a little secret. So did you know you were auditioning for two roles?
Not really. No, not really. I think they fed me morsels at a time of information to inform my character arc. The Heroes set is shrouded in secrecy even from the Heroes actors.

As the scripts went along I kind of saw the direction it was going. I’d ask, you know I’d corner an executive producer or writer and say, “Come on, you’ve got to give it to me and tell me what the heck’s to come.” And they would. Still, even at this point I don’t know where Adam Monroe is going to end up. I don’t know, there’s some element of surprise and fun in that, but it can also be frustrating.

How late into the game then, after you got the role, did you find out that you’d stop being this you know, feudal Japanese hero and come into the future?
It was probably about five episodes in when I realized that, when they told me that. Masi Oka would come up and he’d have some information he heard from a writer and then I’d have to go corner that writer. Dig for information.

Click here to read the full interview.

David Anders says he took the role of Takezo Kensi because it’s “work.” But in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, it does sound as though the actor is enjoying his time on Heroes, as well…

What interested you in Heroes?
Work. Also, Greg Grunberg had really pumped it up to me and made it sound like the raddest show.

When they told you the role was for Hiro Nakamura’s mythic descendent, did you find it humorous that you’re not, well, Japanese?
Not humorous so much as frustrating. Japanese is a very difficult language. But of course it’s humorous. I’m dressed in samurai armor every day. I’m running through burning villages and taking out my sword and doing things with it. (laughs)

What’s your character like?
He is an Englishman (switches to English accent) who came over on the feudal trade vessels that the emperor let pass and he stayed on to find his fortune. He came up with the name Takezo Kensei, because people are more apt to run from you when you have a good, fierce, fearful name. And he’s not the hero that Hiro thought he was.

What’s it like working with Masi Oka?
We have fun together. The only way you can keep from going crazy in armor out in the very hot, hot sun is to pretend like you’re drunk.

You’ll meet David Anders tonight, on the season premiere of Heroes. First, though, get to know the actor a bit in the following interview:

Q: Did you watch the first season of Heroes?
A: I only really watched the first three or four episodes.

Q: So you weren’t like a huge fan of the show then?
A: I can’t say that I was, but obviously I would love to be on a show that is watched by 20 million people.

Q: Yeah, did they come looking for you specifically for this character or did you have to go an audition? How did you get involved with Heroes?
A: Yeah, it was an audition for a character with two contrasting scenes. I didn’t know what to make of what was actually written for the audition. But you know I came in and did the English thing. It was my impersonation of Peter O’Toole. Then, they asked me to come back in and tone down the O’Toole a little bit, but still sound English. Then, I got the part a couple of weeks later.

Q: Cool. The character you play on Heroes is pretty interesting. We probably expect the character to be Asian, but as you said this character is English.
A: Yeah, nothing is as what it seems in the Heroes world.

Q: Why did you want audition for this role? You were just a good villain on Alias, did you just want to be a “hero” this time?
A: I don’t know. I guess I have the market cornered as far as an American with working papers that can play a Brit. I’ve been saying that I’m an English actor born in Oregon. I guess this is the English part of my career. I’ve also been really lucky to get on proven hits after the first season, and become a series regular. I’m very fortunate.

Q: Yeah. Is it hard to join a show with an established and successful cast already?
A: No, I went through the same situation with Alias. Everyone in this ginormous cast of like 15 regulars has been very cool and welcoming. I’ve worked primarily with Masi Oka and I have had a great time with him helping me with my Japanese.

Q: Right. Did you get the chance to participate in the “Heroes World Tour” that the others did?
A: No, I didn’t. I think mainly because my character is new and very secretive, and they were all out there promoting the first season on that tour. There were a few people on the tour who weren’t in the first season, though. I know Dania Ramirez was on that tour and she hadn’t done an episode yet until the second season premiere. (Laughs) I asked that question. I was like “what the heck?! I would like to go on that tour!” But I understand, I don’t want me and my big mouth to blow it.

Continue reading this article …

It’s not a Heroes spoiler to reveal that David Anders will be playing the role of Takezo Kensei in season two.

We’re all curious to see why this actor was chosen for the role of a samurai warrior, but at least now we can see him in action.

Below, Kensei confers with his supposed protege, Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka). Wonder what they’re talking about…

 We already knew David Anders was coming on board Heroes for season two - but news is now that this former Alias star has inked a deal to be a full-time cast member .

Although initial reports suggested Anders was brought in as a full-fledged player, this wasn’t the case. He was technically hired as a recurring player, but TV Guide says after seeing him in action as the 1,000-year-old Kensei, producers decided to keep him around for good.

While we’re dishing about Heroes casting news, rumor also has it that that Deadwood’s Stephen Tobolowsky will appear in at least six episodes this season. Not much is known about his character for now.

Kristin at E! Online recently answered a few Heroes-related questions about season two. Let’s get right to them!

Do you have any Heroes news? I miss that show!
The powers of new Heroes Maya (Dania Ramirez) and Alejandro (Shalim Ortiz) are connected. Dania told us this about her brother, “We need each other.” We also hear that despite reports the fraternal twins are from the Dominican Republic, they’re actually from Central America and will either be leaving from or at least passing through San Cristobal, Honduras.

Do you know anything more about David Anders’ role on Heroes?
We asked Masi Oka, “Riddle me this. White guy from Oregon. How is [David Anders] a samurai-type in feudal Japan?” He answered, “You will find out in the first episode. And it’s an answer that everyone will be happy about. Does he have any powers? Does he share any powers? We don’t know. Is he white? Yes.” Masi wins at life.

How is Sylar going to fit into Heroes this season?
We talked to Greg Grunberg recently, and he had this to say: “We’re still playing with some of the stuff from last year, but they’ve definitely introduced a new character, which I hope I have a big part in, that they alluded to last year. Remember, Molly said last year, ‘Every time I think about him, he can see me; he’s the bogeyman.’

There’s this character that is looming out there that’s bigger and badder than Sylar, so it’s going to be pretty crazy.” I ran that by Sylar himself, Zachary Quinto, and he said, “There’s definitely a dark new energy on the show, and it’ll be interesting to see how Sylar fits into that.”

Do you know what’s going on with the Petrelli brothers in season two?
So do we, so we asked Adrian Pasdar what was going on between Nathan and Peter, and we were sad when he told us, “Milo and I have not worked together in a long time…”

What’s happening with my boy HRG on season two of Heroes?
According to Jack Coleman, he’s moved the family to somewhere in Southern California. He says, “Los Angeles would not be accurate, but not far off.” He added, “Everyone survives, but the Bennets are a very dislocated but determined group that tries to make the best of it, but old ways and old ghosts quickly come into play very dramatically.”

Heroes, Heroes, Heroes!
There will be an upcoming storyline set in County Cork, Ireland. Separately, look for a dangerous new Francophone character named Sophie. She’s the employee of a powerful, mysterious group, and she’s “not afraid to use lethal force to accomplish her mission.”