Look up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...The Atom? That's right, another superhero is joining the world of "Arrow," and he will be played by an actor who is no stranger to the world of DC Comics.
Actor Brandon Routh, who played Clark Kent/Superman in the 2006 film "Superman Returns," will be joining the season 3 cast of "Arrow" as scientist Ray Palmer, also known as the superhero The Atom.
While he isn't quite as prestigious as the Man of Steel, in the comics The Atom has the ability to alter the size of objects and himself as well as manipulate molecules around him to give him flight. He has appeared in various DC animated series over the years, most recently on the popular Cartoon Network series "Young Justice."
As reported by TVLine, Palmer will be introduced into Starling City as the new owner of Queen Consolidated, where his plans for the company's Applied Sciences Division are a mystery to Oliver and Felicity. Whether or not Palmer will start the season with super powers or will gain them sometime during the show's third season currently isn't known, but judging from the introduction of The Flash last season, it's likely he will have super powers sooner rather than later.
After "Superman Returns" failed to soar with audiences, Routh has been no stranger to television. He has been seen on TV's "Chuck" and "Partners," Crackle's "Chosen" and more recently can be seen in a recurring role on Fox's "Enlisted." The actor also can also be seen in films like "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" and the Seth Rogen comedy "Zack and Miri Make a Porno."
Routh will be joining several new characters to the show next season, many of them pulled straight from DC Comics. Among them is "Sin City's" Devon Aoki as the sword-wielding assassin Katana. Also, Karl Yune will play Katana's husband and Oliver's Hong Kong handler, Maseo Yamashiro. He will be introduced in flashbacks as a gifted martial artist and teacher to Oliver who helps him become the hero he is today.
In addition, Peter Stormare will play the villain Count Vertigo, who in the comics uses a device implanted in his head to disorient his enemies, though whether or not the show version of this character will do the same is up in the air. Season 3 of "Arrow" is slated to premiere Oct. 8 on The CW.
