Arrow Scoop: Currie Graham Leads Royal Flush Gang

Currie Graham has been tapped to lead Royal Flush Gang on Arrow, TVGuide.com has learned.

The NYPD Bluealum has been cast as King, whose villainous alter-ego in the new CW series is Derek Reston. In the comics, Derek was initially Ace, though in this adaptation, Ace goes under the name Kyle Reston will be played by Copper's Kyle Schmid.

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The CW's new superhero drama will follow the exploits of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), a wealthy playboy who survives a boating accident that leaves him stranded on a deserted island for five years. While there, he hones his archery skills to survive, birthing his alter ego, Arrow.

Discussing the new series with reporters Monday, executive producer Andrew Kreisberg stressed that everything in the series would be grounded in reality — including Reston's Royal Flush Gang. "You'll see... the dynamic of the family and the iconography of the playing cards are going to be there without the supernatural bent," he said. "I think we've come up with a really clever way to portray them."

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The Royal Flush Gang will appear in the sixth episode, which Kreisberg called "one of the most successful attempts at alchemy that we've performed. ... The Royal Flush Gang was the most outlandish villains from the comics, but they turned out to be our most grounded villains. The relationship that Oliver has with King, the leader of the gang, we're really proud of it."

Graham, whose other credits include Raising the Barand Boston Legal, joins previously announced guest stars John Barrowman, Tahmoh Penikett, Jeffrey Nordling, Michael Rowe and Jessica de Gouw.

Arrow premieres Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW.