After Ruby Rose’s exit, the new Batwoman will be a whole new character
A couple weeks back, Batwoman star Ruby Rose shocked fans by abruptly announcing she was exiting the show. Later, it was reported that Rose wasn’t happy with the long hours associated with playing the lead character in a popular CW hero series. With Rose leaving, the CW committed to hiring another someone to replace her, but we were left wondering: are they just going to cast another actor in the role of Kate Kane, or will there be a new lead character altogether?
Now, Deadline confirming a report from Decider that a new character will indeed be donning Batwoman’s cape and cowl come season 2, but it’s not a character that currently exists in the DC canon…or at least, that’s what they want us to think.
The news first broke from a post on the Batwoman subreddit:
"[S2] New Batwoman casting info from BatwomanTV"
The name of the next Batwoman is Ryan Wilder. That’s not a name comics fans will recognize, although it could be a placeholder name for an established character. In the comics, Betty Kane — the niece of Kate Kane — became Batgirl for a time before passing the mantle to Commissioner Gordon’s daughter Barbara. Cassandra Cain also wore the cape and cowl for a while, so there are plenty of options for who Ryan Wilder could really be, if she’s not just an original character.
Ryan has a messy past, including working as a drug-runner but is now sober and reformed. She is described as “likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed.” That’s very unlike the dark and edgy Kate Kane we met in season 1.
One thing that will remain the same is that Ryan Wilder is “an out lesbian.” With season 1, Greg Berlanti promised to deliver the first-ever LGBTQ lead on a DC/CW hero show. The fact that Batwoman was being completely recast with a new character put that promise in jeopardy. But thankfully, Berlanti and Warner Bros. are sticking to their word.
Next. Into The Arrowverse: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow goes meta, Stargirl suits up. dark
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