Those clinging onto Heroes, hoping for a miraculous recovery from the twisted storylines and ragged characters, might actually be happy about this one.
Toronto radio station Z103.5 announced this morning that Ali Larter has reportedly been asked to leave Heroes at the end of this season.
Producers apparently feel there’s nothing left to do with Larter’s newest character, Tracy Strauss. They don’t necessarily want to release her from contract, but will potentially kill off Tracy at the end of Volume IV.
Pre-Tracy, Larter played dissociative identity disorder sufferer Niki Sanders, whose alter ego Jessica displayed super-crazy strength and power.
Niki was killed off at the end of Volume II when she ran into a burning building after her son, Micah (Noah Gray-Cabey), and his cousin, Monica (Dana Davis), who was notably absent throughout the entire third volume.
If Larter is written off the show, it would come as no surprise. The Tracy character has done nothing but annoy loyal fans who want to see the actress’ acting chops put to better use.
And it seems as though fans aren’t the only ones unhappy about the series’ lowered expectations.
A blind item posted on E! Online claims the show has finally succumbed to the behind-the-scenes squabbles usually spawned by ensemble casts, and now one major character wants out.
As with all blind items, no names are mentioned, but the actor or actress in questions feels he or she is not getting enough screen time, and is asking to be let go of his or her contract at the end of the season.
There’s more: The actor has been on the show since the first season, has “more name recognition than others in the cast” and could be revived from a death scene (which could pretty much mean anybody).
Are these two news items one and the same? Could Ali Larter be asking for a show release, rather than the other way around? Before the series began, Larter was definitely one of the more established cast members, and Tracy has had little-to-no screen time in recent episodes.
Thoughts? amber@tvguide.ca
Heroes returns Mon., Feb. 2, 9 p.m. ET, Global/NBC.
