Natalie Zea returns to 'The Following' for Season two

Natalie Zea has signed a deal to return to Season 2 of "The Following," in a move that surprised anyone who thought her character wouldn't survive the vicious knife attack she underwent during the show's season finale.

The 38-year-old actress plays Claire Matthews in Fox's Monday night thriller, a character whose future concerned both and series creator, Kevin Williamson from the start.

"My concern, and Kevin Williamson's concern, was always, 'Is there more story to tell with Claire?' And we both discovered that maybe there wasn't," Zea told TV Guide.

However, and despite the gruesome attack she underwent during the final episode, sources claim that Fox executives weren't ready to let Zea go and that she has signed a deal to appear in the show's upcoming season.

Nevertheless, it is still unknown how long Zea, who joins the cast of CBS's Under the Dome next month, will stay on the show.