LOSTBLOG: Cast update

The "Lost" season finale left all of us scratching our heads, wondering who from the cast could possibly be returning after Juliet detonated the bomb at the bottom of what will presumably become the Swan Station.

But details have started to leak about the futures of some of our island friends. Possible spoilers lie ahead in this cast-member update:

Juliet
• Last seen: Blowed up real good.
• Status: Elizabeth Mitchell will be a full-time cast member on ABC's new version of "V" this fall. But EW's Michael Ausiello reports we haven't seen the last of Dr. Burke as a guest star.
• Rampant speculation: Dead is dead, but that doesn't mean the Smoke Monster won't assume the form of Juliet next year, perhaps to further complicate the Jack/Kate/Sawyer triangle. She could also show up in flashbacks from any number of characters, including Ben.

Locke
• Last seen: Dead on the beach, as Jacob's unnamed pal had assumed Locke's identity for the latter half of the season. The faux Locke orchestrated Jacob's death by the hand of Benjamin Linus.
• Status: Terry O'Quinn told a South Carolina newspaper covering a golf tournament that he will be back next season, but as a new character. "I think it's ended for Locke," he told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
• Rampant speculation: Here's that phrase again: Dead is dead. Jacob's unnamed pal, whom most of the "Lost" Web community has dubbed "Esau", will retain Locke's form, likely to try to convince Jack and Co. that he's actually Locke. I'm sad to see Locke go; his is a truly tragic tale.

Claire
• Last seen: Hanging out with Christian Shephard in the cabin at the end of Season 4. Whether she is still alive remains a mystery.
• Status: Show-runners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have confirmed that Emilie de Ravin will return as a series regular in Season 6.
• Rampant speculation: Claire did not die when Keamy and his troops attacked New Otherton in Season 4, as many have speculated. I'm guessing she was seduced by the dark side, so to speak, and has bought into whatever Christian -- aka Esau, aka Faux Locke -- has told her. The real Christian Shephard, after all, was her father.

Charlie
• Last seen: Drowning in the Looking Glass in Season 3, unless you count Hurley's visions from Season 4. (And maybe we should!)
• Status: Dominic Monaghan has shown up in a new series of promos for ABC, leading to speculation that he's coming back to "Lost" as a regular. Recent scuttlebutt suggests that Monaghan is returning as a guest star, but most of his time will be occupied by starring on ABC's new sci-fi show, "Flash Forward."
• Rampant speculation: Charlie must be connected to the guitar that Jacob gave to Hurley. And if Claire is back on the show, one could easily imagine a flashback episode in which we see more of Claire and Charlie's relationship. (Heck, even Aaron could have a flashback to Charlie. Who knows?)

Shannon (Yes, Shannon)
• Last seen: Shot dead in Season 2 by the character who would inherit her title as The Island's Most Annoying Person, Ana Lucia.
• Status: And now, the shakiest info of all. A tweet from an insider says that Maggie Grace will return for six episodes next season.
• Rampant speculation: I'm gonna call BS on this one, but if it proves to be true, Shannon could be used by Esau to turn Sayid against the Losties. (Remember, Sayid and Shannon were lovers, briefly.) That's pretty much the only scenario I can envision; why in the world would they inflict Shannon's whining on the audience again?!?