The Following at Comic-Con 2013: James Purefoy Makes Surprise Appearance, Returning For Season 2

The British actor will still be a series regular in the Fox hit serial killer thriller's second season when it returns midseason

By Tierney Bricker Jul 19, 2013 10:30 PMTags
The FollowingSarah Shatz/FOX

Talk about a killer return!

Though he wasn't scheduled to attend 2013 Comic-Con, James Purefoy made a surprise appearance at The Following's panel on Friday, joining executive producers Kevin Williamson and Marcos Siega and actors Kevin Bacon, Shawn Ashmore and Valorie Curry.

And though his iconic serial killer character Joe Carroll was supposedly killed off in the finale (being inside a building that blows up tends to do that), it was announced that Purefoy will be returning as a series regular for the Fox hit's highly anticipated second season, debuting January 2014. We guess Joe had a few more tricks up his sleeve after all!

Purefoy popped up in character to make the announcement via a "phone call" with Bacon's Ryan. "On the contrary, Ryan, I'm very much alive and kicking," he said.  "My apologies for not calling sooner…You didn't really think you could do a Comic-Con panel without me?"

Williamson played coy when asked for details on Joe's return, simply saying, "Yeah, I guess he might be alive. Of course Joe Carroll will figure into next season." 

Aside from Joe's reappearance, Williamson teased that fans can expect less FBI-centric A-storylines in season two, which will pick up a year after the events of the finale. As for Claire (Natalie Zea)? Well, Zea will be back in season two, but a preview featuring new footage (spoiler alert!) showed Ryan's love, and Joe's ex-wife, dead. Yikes!

Keep checking back with us for more scoop on The Following's second season.