Let’s Talk Batwoman!
by Ian Carlos Crawford
Batwoman made history in 2019 as the first live-action TV series to feature a lesbian superhero as the lead character. The show also cast openly queer Ruby Rose in the titular role.
Then, after exactly 1 full season, Ruby Rose announced she was stepping down. Rose put out a statement saying, “I have made the very difficult decision to not return to Batwoman next season. This was not a decision I made lightly as I have the utmost respect for the cast, crew and everyone involved with the show in both Vancouver and in Los Angeles. I am beyond appreciative to Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Caroline Dries for not only giving me this incredible opportunity, but for welcoming me into the DC universe they have so beautifully created. Thank you Peter Roth and Mark Pedowitz and the teams at Warner Bros. and The CW who put so much into the show and always believed in me. Thank you to everyone who made season one a success — I am truly grateful.”
While the reasons surrounding Rose’s departure aren’t 100% clear, what’s clear is the CW has found their new Batwoman: Javicia Leslie. Leslie will take over the title role in Batwoman’s second season. Berlanti and the CW decided not to just recast though — Leslie will be playing a character named Ryan Wilder, who will take on the mantle of Batwoman after Kate Kane’s departure from Gotham.
Leslie will be the first Black actress to play Batwoman in a live-action TV or film production. Not that we’ve gotten a lot of Batwoman aside from the show — but it’s a big deal to have a leading woman be black and queer, something we haven’t seen much of even in non-genre shows. Leslie said in a statement, “I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Batwoman showrunner Caroline Dries said, in response to the fan theory that Kate Kane will be killed off that she wouldn’t do that, “I love Kate Kane — she’s the reason I wanted to do the show. We’ll never erase her. In fact, her disappearance will be one of the mysteries of season two. I don’t want to give away any of our surprises, but to all our devoted fans, please know that LGBTQ+ justice is at the very core of what Batwoman is and we have no intention of abandoning that.”
So, no burying your gays in this very gay show! A nice change of pace — although how they’ll write around Rose’s departure and solving the mystery of Kane’s disappearance without being able to use Rose herself is unclear. But it’s a superhero show in a universe where parallel universes and magic exists, so truly anything could happen!
Leslie’s new character, Ryan Wilder, is described as, “likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed. She’s also nothing like Kate Kane, the woman who wore the Batsuit before her. With no one in her life to keep her on track, Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits. Today Ryan lives in her van with her plant. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat and could also kill you with her bare hands, Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. An out lesbian. Athletic. Raw. Passionate. Fallible. And very much not your stereotypical All-American hero.”
So, let’s all make sure we support this queer show bringing more diversity in the second season. Season 1 may not have been your cup of tea but we want to support shows making bolder, diverse choices like this. ::Extreme Billy Eichner voice:: Let’s go lesbians! We’re watching Batwoman season 2!
