Misha Collins and Season 9

'Supernatural' Season 9: Misha Collins to return as series regular, and direct an episode

Best news ever for "Supernatural" fans! The CW has confirmed to Zap2it that Misha Collins, our favorite angel-gone-rogue, has signed on to return to the show as a full-time series regular in the already announced Season 9. In addition, he plans to direct an episode -- making him the second cast member, after Jensen Ackles, to step behind the camera on the series.

Currently, Collins' character, Castiel, is embroiled in a major storyline -- he's just learned that a tablet exists that could banish all angels from earth forever, and Heaven is willing to do just about anything to keep the demons (and the Winchesters) from getting their hands on it. Naomi (Amanda Tapping) has been messing with his mind, and giving him orders that he only processes on an unconscious level.

We recently visited Collins on the "Supernatural" set, where we discussed whether or not Castiel is aware of Heaven's disturbing manipulation of his life.

"There's a fine line with Castiel. It's a little bit difficult to tell what's going on, how much he's conscious of," Collins says. "Castiel is being programmed by Naomi, and yet, it seems as though, largely, he's being programmed on an unconscious level. It's been a balancing act for me, deciphering how much he's aware of what's going on, and how much he's not. But he does take moments away to go ask her questions, so he's consciously communicating with her to an extent."