The hit Fox musical series is readying another episode to feature Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth and is looking to bring back Tony nominee Jonathan Groff for its sophomore year, according to zap2it.com.

"Glee" co-creators Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk broke the news at a July 12 panel presented at the Paley Center for Media. They said Chenoweth is set to return early next season as boozy former glee club star April Rhodes (a role that earned Chenoweth an Emmy nomination in the guest-star category for her performance this past season).

The creators are also planning to have Groff return as rival star singer Jesse St. James, but will have to work around his schedule as he is set to revive Deathtrap in London this fall.

Murphy also confirmed that Oscar winner Javier Bardem will make a guest appearance on the show. Previous reports cast Bardem as a heavy-metal rocker who will befriend Artie (Kevin McHale), who is confined to a wheelchair.

Regarding Idina Menzel and Neil Patrick Harris, two other stage vets who made memorable guest appearances this past season, Murphy said, "We'd love to have them back. Those doors are open. Though, Neil is on a competing network."

Murphy said that the plan for the next season is to focus more on regular characters' storylines, particularly the burgeoning relationship between Rachel (played by Groff's Spring Awakening co-star, Lea Michele) and Finn (Cory Monteith). The number of musical numbers will also be scaled down from eight (the average per episode in the second half of last season) to five (the average in the first half of the season).

The complete first season of "Glee" will be released on Blu-Ray and DVD Sept. 14. The second season will premiere Sept. 21 at 8 PM ET on Fox.