‘Heroes’ is coming back to NBC

Superheroes just keep getting bigger in pop culture, and NBC is hoping to capitalize on that popularity by bringing back its own superpowered franchise, “Heroes.�

On Saturday, the network announced it was reviving the series with a new 13-episode miniseries titled, “Heroes Reborn.� It’s expected to air sometime in 2015 and other than that, NBC isn’t saying much.

“Until we get closer to air in 2015, the show will be appropriately shrouded in secrecy, but we won’t rule out the possibility of some of the show’s original cast members popping back in,� NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke said in a statement.

Prior to the new miniseries, there is a planned digital prequel that will serve to introduce the characters and new story lines.

Original series creator Tim Kring will return to executive produce the new miniseries.

BEST TV OF 2013 Lloyd | McNamara

Now the question will be: Are people interested in coming back to “Heroes�?

The series, which debuted on NBC in 2006, was an immediate hit, with fans loving the stories of seemingly normal people manifesting superhuman abilities. At the time, many claimed “Heroes,� with its twisty plot, was rivaling ABC’s “Lost,� which was struggling through its third season.

However, a shortened second season due to the the 2007 writers’ strike, and meandering plot lines caused the audience that initially embraced the series to quickly drift away.

The series’ fourth season premiere was the lowest rated episode of the show to date. The series was officially canceled after the fourth season finale.

Many members of the show’s large cast have moved on to other starring roles, including Hayden Panettiere, who currently stars in ABC’s “Nashville� and Zachary Quinto, whose film career has taken off thanks to the “Star Trek� movies.

ALSO:

The big bang of older TV viewers

CNN will cancel low-rated 9 p.m. ‘Piers Morgan Live’

‘L.A. Law’ cast members testify to the effect the series had