Erica Durance, who will play Lois Lane in at least 13 episodes of The WB’s Smallville in the upcoming fourth season, told SCI FI Wire that the character will arrive on the scene to investigate her cousin Chloe’s (Allison Mack) death. But Lois won’t take any serious interest in Clark (Tom Welling) or his true identity, at least for the foreseeable future, Durance said in an interview. "Lois comes in for that purpose, because her cousin has been killed," she said. "She’s not happy with the investigation, and so she wants to find answers for herself."

Durance, a Canadian actress, has previously appeared in episodes of Tru Calling, Andromeda and Stargate SG-1, all of which shoot in Vancouver, B.C. As Lois, she will play a younger version of the spunky Daily Planet reporter who is Superman’s true love from the DC Comics series.

"I don’t know how the writers are going to do everything and carry it all out, but right now she’s not really aware of necessarily putting together Clark and Superman, as to knowing that it’s all connected," Durance said. "They haven’t really touched on that yet. She’s experienced some interesting things, but she’s going, ’Wow, what’s going on?’ But as for connecting them, she hasn’t yet." Durance will debut as Lane in "Crusade," the Smallville season opener, which airs on Sept. 22.