Michael Chiklis joins Gotham’s second season as a series regular

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Vic Mackey is heading to Gotham City: The Wrap has learned that Michael Chiklis is set to join FOX's Batman prequel series as a regular for the upcoming second season. Chiklis will play the character of Captain Nathaniel Barnes.

Nathaniel Barnes is described as a "key member of Gotham's police force" but the name does not immediately bring to mind any DC Comics characters that it could be based on. In Gotham's first season, the sole original creation was Fish Mooney, played by Jada Pinkett-Smith, who was received very differently by audiences. While it is unknown if Pinkett-Smith will return for season two (something the actress denies), Chiklis joining the series as a regular definitely is a move in the right direction for the uneven show.

Chiklis is best known for his work on TV series like The Commish and fan favorite The Shield. He is adept at playing police officers and has a background in superhero fare in the form of his short-lived series No Ordinary Family and portraying The Thing in the first two FANTASTIC FOUR films. He was most recently seen on FX's American Horror Story: Freak Show. Chiklis is a great actor when the material is right and seeing him return to a police role should make for solid television.

Gotham's second season is being billed as "Rise of the Villains", so it will be interesting to see whether Chiklis' character remains a hero or turns bad guy. Gotham returns for it's second season on Monday, September 25th on FOX.