The fourth season of Arrow is off to a great start, with new duds for the heroes and a new big bad in the form of Marvel Cinematic Universe defector Neal McDonough, recently cast as Damien Darhk. And now the show has added Echo Kellum as Mr. Terrific to help fill out the Justice Society of America’s roster.
Kellum will play Curtis Holt, a.k.a Mr. Terrific, a genius billionaire (is there any other kind?), technology savant, and, according to Variety, the show’s first openly gay character. He’ll team up with Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) at Palmer Technologies before partnering with Oliver Queen. In the comics, Mr. Terrific—whose comics backstory varies considerably from the show—fights crime with T-Spheres, which he uses to access computers, shoot lasers, and, presumably, relax.
Kellum’s improv background—he’s a graduate of The Groundlings and the Upright Citizens Brigade—could see him lightening the mood on Arrow a bit. His last foray into heroism was on Sean Saves The World, when he tried to help Sean Hayes’ character achieve the ever-elusive work-life balance. He also starred opposite Married’s Nat Faxon and a pre-50 Shades Of Grey Dakota Johnson on the short-lived Ben And Kate.
Mr. Terrific will arrive at an opportune time for the good guys of Starling City, because it sounds like the power vacuum created by the season three finale was only temporary. As the leader of H.I.V.E.—and former Ra’s Al Ghul buddy—Damien Darhk will probably be looking to prove he’s the real Demon’s Head.