'Fringe' scoop: Jill Scott set to visit

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Published on October 4, 2012 03:00PM EDT

The future-flung heroes of Fringe, currently busy saving humanity from folically-challenged time travelers with noodle-baking psychic powers, are about to meet another kind of mentalist — and we’re not talking Patrick Jane or Sherlock Holmes. EW.com has learned that the producers of the soon-to-end Fox drama have cast singer-actress-poet Jill Scott in the role of Simone, described as “an incredibly intuitive woman, an oracle-like person.”

Look for Olivia (Anna Torv) to seek Simone’s assistance during an early season episode… in which the cortexiphan-juiced chosen one will eat a cookie and ponder that timeless truth: There is no spoon. (Oracle. Cookies. Spoon. It’s a Matrix joke, people! C’mon!)

Scott has heat. The Grammy-winning singer will soon be seen in Lifetime’s remake of Steel Magnolias with Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad and Alfre Woodard. (The TV movie premieres Oct. 7.) She’s also shooting the forthcoming Fox Searchlight romantic comedy Baggage Claim starring Paula Patton and Derek Luke, and she’s been cast in Woody Allen’s next film. Her previous acting credits include The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and Why Did I Get Married?

Fringe fans, what do you think of the casting? Does it get your theory-senses tingling? Will Simone help reality-leaping Olivia go Full Neo?

Twitter: @EWDocJensen