What's next for 'Heroes'?

By Associated Press NEW YORK--They saved the cheerleader, they saved the world -- for now. But the superpeople of NBC's " Heroes" return with a new round of intrigue next month. Like, whatever happened to Hiro? In May's first-season finale, the adventuresom e time-traveler -- who can bend the space and time continuum -- found himself s urrounded by samurai warriors in 17th century Japan as an eclipse darkened the sky. How ominous. Be warned: stop reading if you don't want any Season 2 spoilers. As fans eagerly await the start of the new season, the cast members of "Heroes" have embarked on a world tour. Here's Hayden Panettiere, who plays Claire Benn et, attending a photo call in London. Here are (l-r) James Kyson Lee (Ando Masahashi), new "Heroes" Season 2 cast mem ber Dania Ramirez (Maya Herrera) and Zachary Quinto (Sylar), posing with the ne w DVD of the show's first season as they sign memorabilia for fans at the NBC E xperience store on August 28 in New York. Here are (l-r) Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder Suresh), Ali Larter (Niki/Jessica S anders), Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura) and Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman), acknowledgi ng cheers from journalists during a press conference in Tokyo on August 27 prio r to the "Heroes" premiere in Japan. The four actors then went to Hong Kong on August 29. Here are Grunberg and Lart er, whose characters faced off in the TV series, at the press conference. With the Sept. 24 premiere approaching, cast member Lee, who plays Hiro's sidek ick Ando, offers these tidbits: The next chapter in the "Heroes" saga picks up four months after the near-destruction of the world. Hiro remains in ancient Ja pan; non-superpowered Ando is living in the present day. Still, the two will be in touch. "There is going to be a really interesting channel of communication between us, " Lee tells The Associated Press. "How that's going to happen, you'll have to find out on the 24th. But it will b e a fascinating way of storytelling. And what happens in one timeline will affe ct the other," he says. The plot also thickens for other "Heroes": Noah Gray-Cabey, who plays the precocious son of good/evil single mom Niki (Lar ter), hints at bigger things for his character. "I'll say that Micah is definitely stepping out of his comfort zone," he tells AP. "And he's going to be meeting some new people, possibly even family." A new character named Maya (Ramirez) struggles with a developing power. Sound f amiliar? "I have a brother, Alejandro, and we're coming to the US to try to find out wha t's going on with me," Ramirez says. "I don't fully understand what's happening to me. However, my ability has me on the run." With a report from INQUIRER.net Editor's note: Photos courtesy of Associated Press.