With Arrow Season 3 release date set for this fall, many new cast members have been added this month after several characters were written off in the previous season.
On Monday, Variety reported that Brandon Routh will star as 'The Atom' whose secret identity is Ray Palmer. In the original DC Comics universe, 'The Atom' has the ability to shrink down to subatomic size. Routh is better known for his previous role as 'Superman' in the 2006 film, Superman Returns.
The next season of 'Arrow' will also add Karl Yune as Maseo Yamashiro -- mentor and handler of protagonist Oliver Queen in the Hong Kong flashback sequence.
This information was confirmed last week in a report by TV Line. Yamashiro will be joined by his wife, Tatsu, who will also be in charge of caring for Oliver. Curiously, a TV Line report in June listed Oliver's husband-and-wife mentors as 'Toshi' and 'Akiko'. The reason for this discrepancy remains unclear.
According to DC comics canon, Tatsu Yamashiro is the alter-ego of sword-wielding Japanese superheroine 'Katana'. Tatsu is played by Devon Aoki whose film credits include 'Sin City', 'Dead or Alive', and '2 Fast 2 Furious'.
Peter Stormare, of 'Prison Break' fame, has been confirmed to star as the villainous Count Vertigo. Seth Gabel originally played the Count in the first two seasons of 'Arrow'. In the Season Two episode 'State vs. Queen' Oliver Queen kills Vertigo with three arrows to the chest. The reason why a different actor will take on the role of Count Vertigo in Season Three remains unknown.
Malcon Meryln will be returning to the series as the main villain in the third season. Merlyn is better known as the Dark Arrow, and was formerly a member of the League of Assassins. He is also the biological father of Oliver's beloved half-sister, Thea. In the previous season finale, Thea joins Malcolm, and it is implied that she may return as a villain in Season 3. Merlyn is played by actor John Barrowman.
The new cast lineup replaces the many character written-off in the previous season of 'Arrow'. Season 2 saw the deaths of Isabel Rochev (Summer Glau) and Moira Queen (Susanna Thompson), as well as the imprisonment of Slade Wilson (Manu Bennett) at an A.R.G.U.S. facility in 'Purgatory' island.
Meanwhile, Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) has rejoined the League of Assassins. Before doing so, she hands her signature Black Canary jacket to older sister Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy). Fans began speculating whether Laurel will be the next Black Canary, even though this rumor has yet to be confirmed.
'Arrow' Season 3 will debut on Wednesday Oct. 8 at 8pm EST on the CW network.
