Brandon Routh — who played the title character in the 2006 movie “Superman Returns” — has been cast as another DC Comics superhero, this time on the small screen.
The 34-year-old actor has joined The CW’s “Arrow” in the recurring role of Ray Palmer aka “The Atom” for the comic book drama’s upcoming third season.
The character is described as a gifted scientist and inventor — who can shrink down to subatomic size. Palmer will play an unexpected role in the lives of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) as the new owner of Queen Consolidated who has mysterious intentions with the company’s Applied Sciences division.
Routh’s previous TV credits include NBC’s spy dramedy “Chuck,” the short-lived CBS comedy “Partners” and the Crackle digital series “Chosen.” He is currently filming the sci-fi movie “400 Days” with Tom Cavanaugh and Dane Cook.
Routh joins a cast that recently added Devon Aoki (“Sin City”) as superheroine Katana, Karl Yune as Oliver’s Hong Kong handler/Katana’s husband Maseo Yamashiro, and Peter Stormare as Count Vertigo.
“Arrow” premieres its new season on Oct. 8 on The CW.