'Heroes Reborn' Release Date, Cast News & Updates: Masi Oka to Reprise Role as Hiro Nakamura

NBC debuted the promotional teaser for "Heroes: Reborn" during the Super Bowl XLIX and the 13-episode follow-up to the 2006 phenomenon has another star signed on to reprise his role from the original series.

According to the New York Daily News, Masi Oka, who was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his role on the series as Hiro Nakamura, has signed on as a guest in "Heroes: Reborn."

Oka said about getting back on his role as the time-traveler and space-jumper, "I'm excited to return to my 'Heroes' roots. Hiro Nakamura was such an inspirational role to play and I'm hoping the fans will enjoy seeing him back on TV."

Hiro Nakamura, as fans already know, is the space-time traveler from Japan who came to New York City to become a superhero. Incidentally, he also coined the series catchphrase, "Save the Cheerleader, save the world," referring to a character played by actress Hayden Panetierre from the series.

Series creator Tim Kring is also as excited to have Oka back on board, saying in a statement via IGN, "We are thrilled to have Masi back in the Heroes family. The character of Hiro Nakamura was such a huge part of the first series' success, and a gigantic fan favorite. We felt the fans would really love seeing him back in action again."

According to USA Today, "Heroes: Reborn" will pick up the original concept that chronicled "the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities."

Oka will be joining a cast that includes Zachary Levi, Ryan Guzman, Robbie Kay, Danika Yarosh, Henry Zebrowski, and Gatlin Green. It will also feature series favorite Jack Coleman as HGR AKA Noah Bennett.

Former cast members Ali Larter however, has indicated that she won't be returning, telling TV Guide last year that, "I'm committed to [TNT's] 'Legends.' I'm on series, so I don't have the time to work on another project. Not that I didn't love 'Heroes' and loved working on it, but I'm just at a different stage of my life. I'm super excited and proud to be a part of this show and working with Sean Bean and an incredible cast." Zachary Quinto, on the other hand, is yet unsure.

According to The Wrap, Kring will still be executive producing the series with Peter Elkoff and James Middleton, and will be produced by Imperative Entertainment in association with Universal Television. "Heroes: Reborn" will air as a limited series on NBC, as well as its digital platforms Hulu and VOD later this year.