Ausiello has reported that two new characters will be joining Big Love for Season 5.  The most recently announced is former Terminator 2 star Robert Patrick.  X-Files fans will also remember Patrick as the FBI agent who succeeded Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) for the final two seasons of the show. He's also recently appeared on the USA series Psych and Burn Notice.

Patrick will be playing Bud Mayberry, the leader of a polygamist fringe group.  This is actually perfect casting, because Patrick easily comes across as a creepy character, as do many of the polygamist leaders on Big Love.

In case you missed this tidbit of information, Gregory Itzin, who played Charles Logan on later seasons of 24, will also be joining the cast of Big Love in the fifth season.  He'll be coming on as Senator Richard Dwyer, the Republican Majority Leader of the Utah State Senate, and Bill's newest senatorial colleague.

That's a lot of new trouble that Bill is sure to run into in season 5 of the HBO show.

While we don't know the official premiere date yet, Big Love should return for its fifth season in early 2011.