New Batwoman lead revealed

[Katie]

And the new lead is cast!

variety.com/2020/tv/news/batwoman-javicia-leslie-series-lead-ruby-rose-1234701651/

“Batwoman” has found its new series lead, with Javicia Leslie set to step into the cape and cowl for the show’s upcoming second season on The CW.

“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,” Leslie said.

Leslie will portray a new character on the show named Ryan Wilder. She is described as likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed. She’s also nothing like Kate Kane (previously played by Ruby Rose), 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. She is an out lesbian, athletic, raw, passionate, fallible, and very much not your stereotypical All-American hero.

Leslie takes over leading the series from Rose, who shocked fans when she announced her departure from the series in May.

On Instagram, Rose praised Leslie’s casting.

“This is amazing!! I am so glad Batwoman will be played by an amazing Black woman. I want to congratulate Javicia Leslie on taking over the bat cape. You are walking into an amazing cast and crew. I can’t wait to watch season 2 you are going to be amazing!!” she wrote.

[Melinda Halliwell]

Not heard of this person so will have google and find that out of course.

[adzpower]

This poor woman is going to get so much hate, I can already see it.

I'm not too enthusiastic since the Arrowverse doesn't have a great track record for making good original characters (COUGHFELICITYCOUGH). But we'll just have to wait and see.

[Tim]

Never heard of Javicia Leslie before now.

All the luck to her, she's gonna need it.

[Squad 51]

We will see if it works. Good luck!

[Tim]

It will be interesting to see how they handle the change.

[Katie]

It will be interesting to see how it is handled, could go well or very bad.

[Tim]

Depends on how well they handle the introduction of the character, IMO.

[Katie]

It will be hard. Her character can't just show up and take over, it has to be earned.

[Tim]

Indeed it does. 

[Melinda Halliwell]

Obviously, the show will have made Javicia aware of the gruelling work hours she'd be doing, the possibility of that occurring some years then however long Batwoman exists, the physicality of fight scenes, living in Vancouver 8-9 months and duel filming between that and LA before she signed up then as a prerequisite so the same mistake they had last season with their lead leaving doesn't happen again.

What happens with Ryder and how the audience react to her we'll have to wait until season 2 airs but like Katie said Ryder will have to earn the right to wear the cape and cowl and not just take over like that (clicks hand).

[Tim]

Yes, she will have to understand that working on the show will require her to live part of the year in Vancouver.

That's non-negotiable.

[Trinity]

Good luck to her, she has big shoes to fill.

I'm sure she knows what she has gotten into, and this will be her home for the next 6 years tops.

[Tim]

I wonder how they'll bring her in?  Will Kate just be gone, and this character just shows up? 

[Melinda Halliwell]

Something like that will probably happen seeing how Ruby's not coming back obviously meaning they'll be a time jump at the start of season 2 then.