Season 5 of True Blood begins shooting this December, and when the hit HBO series returns in the summer of 2012, there will be quite a few new characters to contend with.

The first casting announcement has arrived revealing two of these fresh faces. First up, Kelly Overton is set to play a "dirty, beautiful" werewolf named Rikki, who is desperate to discover what became of her pack's leader. Next, we have Louis Herthum, who joins the cast as a "large, Marine-type" werewolf who refuses to bow down to his new pack leader.

Kelly Overton is set to appear in six Season 5 episodes, while Louis Herthum is scheduled for five. Both actors have series regular options for Season 6.