New villains added to 'Smallville' cast

LOS ANGELES, June 22 (UPI) -- Two new villains will appear in the eighth season of the CW TV series "Smallville," the show's executive producers say.

A statement from "Smallville" executive producers Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson, Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer said "Battlestar Galactica" actor Sam Witwer will play the villain Doomsday and actress Cassidy Freeman will join the cast as villainess Tess Mercer, The Hollywood Reporter said.

"We're thrilled that Sam and Cassidy will be joining the cast, and we have some very exciting things in store for them, their characters and 'Smallville' fans for this season," the producers said. "They are both incredibly talented performers, and we cannot wait to

begin to work with them."

Doomsday represents the dark alter-ego of paramedic Davis Bloome, while Mercer will replace "Smallville" villain Lex Luthor as the new head of LutherCorp, the Reporter said.

The series follows the life of a young Superman before he donned his famed red and blue caped outfit.