A few weeks ago we heard through the grapevine that 'Boardwalk Empire' season 4 had in mind to cast the recurring role of legendary FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, whose department came into prominence the very year that season 4 will move Nucky Thompson and co. into. Now, word has broken that 'The Killing's killer Eric Ladin has landed the role of the famed historical figure, but how big will the character's appearance be?

As 'Boardwalk Empire' pours more and more into a historical context for the upcoming fourth season, Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) has a major date with destiny at the hands of a 27 year-old J. Edgar Hoover! Deadline reports that 'The Killing' star Eric Ladin will take the recurring role, set for an unknown amount of episodes when the Prohibition drama returns this fall.

The initial reports claimed the “humorless” character only features in one major scene thus far, but had the potential to recur. The timing would certainly fit, as ‘Boardwalk Empire’ has been said to jump forward to the year 1924, in which Hoover was made director of the Bureau of Investigation following President Warren Harding’s death.

Ladin joins a season that thus far includes ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire‘ star Jeffrey Wright as an educated Harlem leader, ‘True Blood‘ star Brian Geraghty, Ron Livingston as a new regular role, and HBO vet Domenick Lombardozzi as Chicago mobster Ralph Capone, elder brother to Al Capone (Stephen Graham). Show-runner Terence Winter also previously confirmed of ‘Boardwalk Empire’ season 4 that Gretchen Mol and Kelly MacDonald would indeed return, despite their ambiguous presences at the end of season 3, while 'Man of Steel's Michael Shannon (Nelson Van Alden) would have a stronger presence as a member of Al Capone’s crew.

Well, what say you? Are you excited for 'Boardwalk Empire' season 4 now that 'The Killing's Eric Ladin has joined the cast? Where do you hope to see Nucky Thompson go next?

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