Gotham Casts Fantastic Four's Michael Chiklis as Captain Barnes

Gotham has cast The Shield and Fantastic Four star Michael Chiklis in the series-regular role of Captain Nathaniel Barnes, TVLine reports.

The report identifies Barnes (who doesn't have a direct comic book corollary) as someone who "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."

Chiklis' long-running role on The Shield set him up as one of the most identifiable TV cops...but his character on that series was a far cry from the straight arrow Barnes seems to be. Vic Mackey was a "get the job done at any cost" kind of guy, someone who would fit in as much with Batman's villains as with Gordon and the heroes.

Gotham returns on Monday, September 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.