'Arrow' Casts Former Superman Brandon Routh As Another Superhero Entirely

Welcome back to the DC Comics universe, Brandon Routh!

The actor has been cast in the CW series "Arrow" and will join the upcoming season of the hit show as Ray Palmer, a.k.a The Atom. In comics, Palmer is a scientist who invents a suit that allows him to shrink to the size of—you guessed it—an atom. In the show, he will intersect with Oliver Queen by becoming the new owner of Queen Consolidated.

Routh landed the breakout role of all breakout roles when he was cast as Superman in the 2006 reboot "Superman Returns" opposite Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor and Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. However, audiences didn't warm to Routh in the role, and lackluster reviews and box office returns led Warner Bros. to go a different direction with the franchise, eventually leading to the recent "Man of Steel."

Since then, Routh has starred in the ill-fated "Dylan Dog: Dead of Night" and made a fantastic appearance in the cult hit "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World." Most of his roles have been on television, including runs on "Chuck," "Partners" and "Chosen."

For Routh to land a spot on a successful show with a spin-off and a hopefully long future is great news. He's a talented actor with the ability to handle drama and comedy, and was unfairly tossed aside after the "Superman Returns" debacle. Here's hoping "Arrow" uses him well.