Gotham City's police department is getting a boost via "The Shield." "Gotham" as a series regular in season 2, beginning this fall.

Chiklis will play the department's new captain, Nathaniel Barnes. It's a role created just for the TV series, and puts the Emmy-winning actor in pursuit of bad guys once again.

According to the producers, Barnes "lands on the GCPD like a tornado, ripping out the dead wood of Gotham's police force. He is a law and order zealot; unafraid of making enemies — on either side of the law. For Gordon (Ben McKenzie), Barnes is a hero and a mentor, someone with whom he can share the burden of heroism. Captain Barnes proves himself to be a strong ally to Gordon ... but one day he will make an equally powerful enemy."

OK, so Barnes could end up being more of an antihero like Vic Mackey on "The Shield." But for now, he should be of major help to Det. Gordon, since season 2 is all about "the rise of the villains," as showrunner Bruno Heller teased at Comic-Con a few weeks ago.

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