Beauty and the Beast Team Teases a "Super-Charged" Vincent, a Bigger Mythology and New Blood

Who kidnapped Vincent? Who is Catherine's real dad? The Season 1 finale of Beauty and the Beast left fans — better known as Beasties — with many burning questions. And when the show returns this fall ... there will be even more. The biggest one: "How has Vincent being gone affected everybody?" co-creator and executive producer Jennifer Levin said Thursday at Comic-Con. Thankfully, there will also be plenty of answers when the series picks up its story three months after the events of the finale. "A lot has changed," star Jay Ryan said. See what he, Kristin Kreuk and producers Levin and Sherri  Cooper had to say about the "beastier" second season.

Viewers will meet Catherine's real dad: But first Catherine has to figure out that her dad isn't her real father! Although the audience already knows, the poor girl won't find out the truth so quickly. "Heather is going to be hiding the secret for a little bit," Cooper said. "Once Catherine finds out the big secret about her father, it's going to impact her and she's going to want to find him." Added Levin: "You will learn who her dad is."

Get all the latest Comic-Con scoop on your favorite shows!

Look for more insight into Vincent's past: Ryan joked about finding out who Vincent's mommy is, but producers do seem eager to explore just where Vincent comes from." Our theme for the year, if we have one, is: Who am I? That would apply for all of our characters," Levin said. For the Beast particularly, that means making his mythology "bigger," according to producers.  "A lot of his backstory is going to come through and a lot of that mythology of who Vincent is going to come out. It's a lot to chew on for me," Ryan said. "I'm excited for Vincent to have a community outside of the warehouse and just waiting for Catherine and JT to save him." Kreuk also sounded eager to explore her character's independent side. "I like that we're exploring who Catherine is outside of her identification in the relationship," she said. "I think it' necessary for her to have a healthy relationship."

A better and "beastier" beast: Although Vincent's kidnapping sure seemed alarming in the finale, the person or people who took him "did stuff to him," Cooper said. Surprisingly, that "stuff" may actually help the beast. "We're going to see a more super-charged Vincent," Levin said. "This year we are going to see him be beastier." Added Ryan: "You're going to see a more precise beast in Season 2. His skills are more honed. ... There's a lot of changes coming up for season 2 in terms of Vincent's character."

Comic-Con 2013: Full TV schedule, including S.H.I.E.L.D., Dexter, Once and more!

A new love for Tess? Speaking of new blood, the producers teased two new characters coming to the show, but wouldn't say much about them. "We have a cool guy. We have a cool girl," Levin said. However, it sounds like there is a small chance this cool guy might be a new love interest for Tess (Nisa Lisandrello). "Because of last season, she's no longer with Joe and we're going to explore that and we're going to give her new sort of avenues to explore," Levin said. "She's going to be a free woman at the start of Season 2," Cooper added.

Is there a catfight in the works? Now that Tess has more free time on her hands, she will start to butt into Catherine and Vincent's relationship more, which can only spell trouble. Or does it? "Tess is struggling with the fact that Cat is so taken by Vincent. It's hard for her to watch this because it's easy to judge, it's easy to see it from an outsiders' view," Levin said. "She wants what's best for her but there is that tension."

Get ready for more J.T.: Fan-favorite cast member Austin Basis — who made his presence in the audience known during the panel — will be getting increased screen time this season as the producers examine J.T.'s (seemingly) unwavering loyalty to Vincent. "J.T. is going to be an integral part of this season. Last season we felt like we didn't use him enough," Cooper said. "Why is he always the guy that's giving up his life for the beast? Is there a reason we haven't seen yet?"

Beauty and the Beast returns on Monday, Oct. 7 at 9/8c. What are you most excited to see in Season 2?

(Full Disclosure: TVGuide.com is owned by CBS, one of the CW's parent companies.)