It's been an open secret that Elisha Cuthbert would return to "24" at some point this season. Now it's official.

FOX isn't saying when, but the network is confirming that Cuthbert will be appearing on the show in the coming weeks as Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) tries to re-establish contact with his daughter now that he's not pretending to be dead anymore. William Devane is also set to reprise his role as Secretary of Defense James Heller, and Ray Wise ("Good Night, and Good Luck") and C. Thomas Howell ("The Outsiders") are also joining the show.

Additionally, FOX says it will air back-to-back episodes of the show on Monday, March 6, with previously announced guest stars Peter Weller and JoBeth Williams making appearances then.

Howell, recently seen in NBC's "Poseidon Adventure" remake, will play Barry Landes, a therapist and "trusted friend" of Kim's (Cuthbert) who accompanies her to her meeting with Jack.

Wise, who plays CBS News anchor Don Hollenbeck in the Oscar-nominated "Good Night, and Good Luck" and was Leland Palmer on "Twin Peaks," will play Vice President Hal Gardner in upcoming episodes. He and Secretary Heller will join President Logan (Gregory Itzin) as Logan tries to deal with the terrorist situation.

Weller's character, Christopher Henderson, will first appear on Feb. 27. FOX describes him as the agent who recruited Jack to counterterrorist work who's now defected. Williams is playing his wife, Miriam, who will make her debut on the show March 6.