Back in July, we learned that iconic Batman villain Ra’s al Ghul would be the “Big Bad” of Arrow‘s third season, and now we know who will play him. According to series star Stephen Amell, Australian actor Matt Nable (Riddick) has landed the coveted role.
Along with the announcement came a new character description from the CW, outlining what we should expect from the Head of the Demon when he makes his debut in the fourth episode of the upcoming season (the 50th episode overall), titled “The Magician:”
“The leader of the League of Assassins and father of Nyssa al Ghul (Katrina Law), Ra’s is proud and unforgiving. A ruthless strategist, a master of martial arts and a shaper of history, Ra’s carries the wisdom of the ages and protects some of its greatest secrets.”
The description seems to hint at the mystical elements of the Ra’s character, which were left out of Christopher Nolan’s interpretation. Liam Neeson played Ra’s in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises, and only metaphorically hinted at Ra’s immortality (achieved through bathing in a Lazarus pit) and age-old wisdom. Arrow started out as a more “grounded” and realistic approach to DC Comics lore but introduced superpowers in its second season, which organically led to The Flash spin-off. Ra’s could easily be the show’s big leap into more supernatural and mythological territory.
Tell us, what do you think of this casting news? Do you think Nable is a good fit for Ra’s al Ghul? Sound off in the comments below!
Arrow returns for its third season on Wednesday October 8th, 2014 on the CW.
