Every season, 24 gets bigger and bigger guests stars, and the upcoming sixth time around looks to be no exception. The latest news from the CTU casting couch is that Academy Award nominee James Cromwell will be joining the gang as Jack Bauer's estranged father. He will be joined by Eddie Izzard, who we don't imagine will be appearing in drag (unless there's some cruel joke about Jack's mom). Izzard will play a shady character (he is British after all), and he will undoubtedly be killed off by episode eight.

Eric Balfour will also be back, resurrecting his role as Milo from season one (somebody's gotta fill Edgar's giant shoes. Why not a ratty-faced actor?), and the Palmer family will increase by one as ubiquitous actress and former 227 star Regina King will step in as Sandra Palmer, sister to the late David Palmer. No word on whether or not the Palmer children will ever resurface after their rape-and-murder-infused adventures of season one, but if Milo can make a triumphant return, anything can happen.

Rounding out the new faces for now will be Peter MacNicol (who we're hoping doesn't fall under the spell of an entrancing painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and, as we reported several weeks ago, Kal Penn. For more information on 24 castings as well as some early details about the new season, check out these articles from Zap2it and E! Online.