‘Arrow’ Exclusive: First Look at Mr. Terrific! (PHOTO)

It’s gonna be a gay ol’ time in the newly-branded Star City when Palmer Technology’s Curtis Holt joins the Arrow fun! Described as a tech savant, the openly gay character—played by comic Echo Kellum—is based on Michael Holt, a member of the Justice Society and Checkmate in the DC Comics universe.

“Curtis is someone we started talking about [in the writers room] at the end of last year, out of a desire to fill in some gaps in terms of the cast and storytelling,” says executive producer Marc Guggenheim. And while the recurring character is a stylish brainiac who technically “fills the same role Brandon [Routh] filled last year,” Guggenheim assures us that “no one will compare the two. It is really a different performance than Brandon’s.”

Holt will, however, share one thing in common with Routh’s believed-to-be-dead Ray Palmer: A close association with Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), who is now his supervisor at Palmer Tech. Which means fans should prepare themselves for a lot of laughs with these two sharing scenes together. “Echo has quickly become an MVP of the cast,” raves Guggenheim. “I think a lot of people will compare him favorably to the addition of Emily in Season 1. He has this wonderful energy.”

One might even say it’s terrific.

More Arrow

• First Look Photo: Olicity
• The Plan for Olicity for Season 4
• 5 Awesome Things Happening This Season

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