US sci-fi series Heroes is to return to its roots for its next season, according to its creator.

“This volume starts us pretty much from scratch,” Tim Kring told TV Guide. “There is almost nothing that the audience needs to know from the previous volume in order to follow the storyline.”

The fourth series is due to launch in the US on February 2 and in it the ‘Heroes’ are all trying to lead normal lives until Claire Bennett discovers that Nathan Petrelli is planning to capture and imprison all those with powers.

Angela Bromstad, NBC’s president of primetime entertainment, confirmed that the future of the show was “very secure”, but added that she had discussed its problems with Kring.

She said: “They may have taken on too much in terms of characters and multiple storylines.”