Arrow has cast legendary DC Comics villain Ra’s al Ghul, who will be the villain of season 3.
Matt Nable will play the leader of the League of Assassins, according to Arrow star Stephen Amell:
Please welcome Matt Nable to Arrow. You know who he's playing. pic.twitter.com/f0I7tmujiD
— Stephen Amell (@amellywood) September 4, 2014
According to The CW, “Proud and unforgiving, Ra’s is a ruthless strategist, a master of martial arts, and a shaper of history. He carries the wisdom of the ages, and protects some of its greatest secrets.”
He will make his first appearance in Arrow season 3, episode 4, titled “The Magician.” This episode will also mark Arrow‘s 50th episode. The role is expected to be recurring.
Nable is an Australian actor, writer, and former rugby player. He appeared in 2013’s Riddick and television series Underbelly, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, and East West 101.
Ra’s is, of course, the father of Nyssa al Ghul (Katrina Law), who was introduced in season 2. The League of Assassins trained both Malcolm Merlyn and Sara Lance. Though Sara returned to the League at the end of season 2, Malcolm is on Ra’s’ most wanted list after his role in the Undertaking.
Even before Ra’s was announced, the Arrow producers were teasing what fans could expect from season 3’s Big Bad: “Slade had a very specific agenda — he was out for revenge and had set up this elaborate five-year plot,” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg told EW. “What’s interesting about the villain in season 3 is that he doesn’t necessarily disagree with [Oliver].”
“He doesn’t have any personal animus towards the Arrow, and he actually in some ways has a very similar worldview. [But] the Arrow is thinking too small.”
Kreisberg adds, “In some ways, as Oliver is struggling with whether or not he can be the Arrow and Oliver at the same time, the villain of season 3 is saying, ‘Being Oliver Queen is what’s holding you back from fulfilling your true destiny.’ So it’s a very interesting dynamic, but it is tied in the same way that Oliver last year was wrestling with, ‘Am I a hero or a killer?’ The theme of identity is tied up very much in how the villain is presented to Oliver.”
Watch the Arrow promo that first teased the appearance of Ra’s in season 3:
Arrow season 3 premieres Wednesday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET on The CW.
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