'The Blacklist' Season 3 Updates: Return date, 'Monk' actor cast, Red's old flame appearance, Season 4 confirmed

Cast member James Spader poses at a press line for the movie "Avengers: Age of Ultron" during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, California July 26, 2014. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

“The Blacklist” Season 3 opened with Liz (Megan Boone) becoming FBI’s most wanted fugitive, and the mid-season finale, titled "Kings of the Highway," ended with her arrest. When “The Blacklist” Season 3 returns with Episode 9 on Jan. 07, 2016, the focus is set to be on how Liz escapes death, as her arrest has put her in great danger.

Episode 9 is titled “The Director,” and it is a two-parter. The preview of the new episode shows Liz being locked up inside the glass box at the Post Office. Agent Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) can be seen promising her a fair hearing, but as the preview indicates the Cabal will be coming after her, and if they reach her, she won't make it to the trial alive.

Speaking about the new episodes, Jon Bokenkamp, creator of "The Blacklist," told Entertainment Weekly, "... As much as it’s a victory for our task force to capture her [Liz], it puts her in almost greater danger."

"It’s a race against the clock for Red (James Spader) to enact whatever his plan is that he’s been working on for the last eight episodes. It’s time for things to fall together, and that is going to be fun," he added.

Also an upcoming episode is set to reveal Red’s mysterious romantic past. TV Line reported that “The Blacklist” is casting a woman in her 30s or 40s to play Red’s old flame, Catherine. The report describes her as “beautiful, exotic and sophisticated daughter of a prolific illegal arms dealer” who married another man. The character of Catherine will make an appearance in Episode 13 of “The Blacklist” Season 3.

Episode 13 will also see “Monk” actor Tony Shalhoub making a guest appearance. Entertainment Weekly reported that Shalhoub will play Alistair Tate. His character has been described as a “master negotiator for the criminal underworld” who uses his wit and dramatic flair to woo his potential clients and make them accept his proposals.

Meanwhile, “The Blacklist” has been renewed for Season 4. It may not be the best show on television, but it has managed to keep the audience hooked, with its multiple twists and mysteries, and thus, NBC renewing it for another season does not come as a surprise.

“We knew about that [“The Blacklist” Season 4] a while ago. It’s one of those things that’s hard to keep quiet. But yes, we’re renewed through the fourth season,” Bokenkamp broke the news about Season 4 renewal during his interview on “The Blacklist Exposed” podcast .

“Hopefully we don’t tank that out. We’ve got a lot of story to tell,” he added.

Watch "The Blacklist" Season 3 Episode 9 Preview: