Wednesday's premiere of "Arrow," the superhero drama based on DC Comics' Green Arrow, was the most-watched show on The CW in three years, attracting 4.02 million viewers.

Starring Stephen Amell ("Hung"), the series centers on wealthy young bad boy Oliver Queen, who after being marooned on a remote island for five years returns to Starling City with a mastery of the bow and a determination to make a difference.

"Arrow" represented the network's highest-rated premiere since the hit supernatural drama "The Vampire Diaries" debuted to an audience of 4.91 million in September 2009. It also tied NBC's competing Wednesday comedies "Animal Practice" and "Guys With Kids" in overall viewers and in the 18-49 demographics, scoring a 1.3 rating/4 share.

The drama also helped to lift "Supernatural" to its best overall ratings in two years, with 2.6 million viewers.

Airing Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, "Arrow" also stars Colin Donnell as Tommy Merlyn, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen and Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance.