Arrow has cast the first-ever black, gay superhero (Picture: REX/METRO/mylo)

Long-running TV series Arrow is about to get its first openly gay black superhero in the shape of Mr. Terrific.

A first for Network television, the comic book character will be played by Echo Kellum and will be a dramatic reinvention for the crime-fighter.

‘We’re often asked when we’re going to add another LGBT character to the show and our version of Mr Terrific happens to be gay for anyone that cares about that kind of stuff,’ executive producer Marc Guggenheim said.

In the comics, Mr. Terrific is actually Michael Holt, a billionaire Olympic champion who turns to crime-fighting after the death of his wife and unborn child.




The TV version of the character will be called Curtis Holt, and Kellum will team up with the existing members of the Arrow cast, which includes Caity Lotz playing the openly bisexual character Canary.

Arrow stars Stephen Amell in the title role, and Kellum will join the fourth series which is scheduled for broadcast this autumn.

Stephen Amell stars as Oliver McQueen in Arrow (Picture: CW TV)

With TV leading the way, will we ever see a gay superhero on the big screen?

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