EPs Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Marc Guggenheim, acknowledge this morning they’re in “very early talks” on the “very general idea” of an Atom series, expanding their DC comic empire at CW, beyond Arrow and The Flash.

Last July, CW announced Brandon Routh would had been signed to Arrow‘s third season, on a recurring basis, to play Atom, alter ego Ray Palmer, known for his ability to shrink and expand himself, and other objects, to advantage.

“We haven’t dug deeper on” it and are “not allowed” to discuss it, Berlanti told TV critics at Winter TV Press Tour 2015.

CW set the stage for DC comics news at the Press Tour with a heavily guarded display of character costumes.

The addition would be no real surprise,; Arrow is credited with helping define the CW — its latest iteration anyway — and The Flash now is the most watched show in the network’s history.

Kreisberg — asked why so many superhero TV shows now — pointed to TV’s advances in special effects which he said allow the medium to better keep pace with feature film.

EXCLUSIVE: DC Comics superheroes are uniting in a potential new drama series at the CW, a spinoff from hits Arrow and The Flash that will feature several fan-favorite recurring actors/characters from both shows. I have learned that the network has teamed with Arrow creators Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim for a project eyed for next season toplined by Brandon Routh, Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller and Caity Lotz.

The untitled project, now in development, is described as a superhero team-up show. Routh, Miller and Garber will reprise their popular DC Comics characters — Arrow‘s Ray Palmer/The Atom (Routh), Flash villain Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (Miller), and Flash‘s Dr. Martin Stein (Garber). Because her Arrow character Sara Lance was killed off, with her sister Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) taking over as the Black Canary, it is unclear whether Lotz will play the same or new superhero.

The project is in early stages of development, so there is a possibility for other Arrow/Flash characters to cross over to the new spinoff. Additionally, in a tidbit that should get fans fired up, I have learned the new project will include three major DC Comics characters who have never appeared in a TV series.

This is the project CW president Mark Pedowitz vaguely referenced at TCA in January. It will not be part of the current pilot cycle. With the creative auspices and talent involved, I hear that it could go straight to series, possibly for next midseason.

Berlanti and Kreisberg, who also co-created The Flash, and Guggenheim executive produce with Sarah Schechter for Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Prods.

Teaming up superheroes has been a winning formula, as proven by the success of the Justice League and The Avengers comics. Marvel’s The Avengers have crossed over to features, with DC’s Justice League also on its way to the big screen. Routh is repped by UTA and Main Title, Lotz is repped by UTA and Atlas Artists.