Former The O.C. star Ben Mckenzie is heading back to TV after landing the lead role in a new Batman spin-off.

The former small screen heart-throb, who found fame opposite Mischa Barton in the teen drama, has signed up to play James Gordon, a police rookie who later rises to the rank of commissioner, in new superhero show Gotham.

The show will be based around the character and his police career before the emergence of Batman.

Commissioner Gordon has previously been portrayed by Neil Hamilton in the 1960s series about the Caped Crusader, while Pat Hingle played him in four films from 1989's Batman until 1997's Batman & Robin.

Gary Oldman most recently portrayed Gordon in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight film trilogy.