New Girl has a new girl—and it’s quite a big name.

Megan Fox has signed on for a starring role on the Fox series during star Zooey Deschanel’s maternity leave.

The Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles star has been cast in a multi-episode arc during next year’s fifth season.

Here’s the plan: Several episodes into the season, Deschanel’s Jess will find herself on sequestered during jury duty (and will not appear in the show). During that period, Fox’s character will rent out Jess’ room. Fox plays “Reagan,” described as a “gorgeous, straight-shooting pharmaceutical sales rep who comes to town on business and shakes things up in the loft.”

“It’s insane to me that such a gorgeous person can be so funny, but I guess we just all have to accept it,” said executive producer Liz Meriwether. “I’ve been a fan of her comedic skills since This is 40, and I’m so excited to have her on the show. We had Megan in mind when we wrote this part – she’s the perfect person to come in and shake these guys up.”

Fox will first appear in the sixth episode of next season, which is scheduled to premiere in January.

The role will mark Fox’s first major TV gig in a decade, having last had a series regular role on ABC’s Hope & Faith. Fox arranged to take on the New Girl role in addition to her duties on the upcoming TMNT sequel.

Last month Deschanel had her first child, a baby girl. She also wed Jacob Pechenki over the summer. (And in other New Girl birth-beat news, Max Greenfield welcomed his second child, a baby boy, last month).

Source: Ew.com