Earlier in the week, we were following the speculation that Heroes may have had its day, with even many originally ardent fans suggesting that the show had long since lost what made it great. With ratings a problem - admittedly enhanced by DVR recordings - and the budget still high, Heroes was potentially primed for the chopping block.

However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the likelihood is that the show will actually be getting a fourth season after all. The caveat to this is that it won't be a full length season, which if true suggests to us that Heroes is still very much on trial. But nonetheless, there's at least one last chance for Tim Kring - accompanied by Bryan Fuller - to turn things around.

According to the report, Heroes is still one of NBC's highest performing shows, and the likelihood is that a fresh order of 18 episodes is on the way. The show's international success is understood to be a factor in the decision.

There's been no formal deal yet, but there's certainly a fair whack of smoke here. You can read the full Hollywood Reporter piece here.