Here we go, we've all been wondering who would be the new Batwoman and today we have an answer. Warner Bros. Television, The CW and Berlanti Productions announced today that Javicia Leslie has been cast as the new Batwoman. Javicia will make her debut in the iconic cape and cowl when “Batwoman” returns to The CW for its second season in January 2021, airing Sundays at 8:00–9:00 pm ET/PT. When Javicia was asked about taking on the role, she said:
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.
As we announced earlier, the character of Kate Kane won't be recast and a new role has been developed for Batwoman. Ryan Wilder is described as:
Character description: Ryan Wilder is about to become Batwoman. She’s 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.
Prior to joining “Batwoman,” Javicia starred for two seasons on the CBS/Warner Bros. Television drama series “God Friended Me” and the BET drama “The Family Business,” as well as the feature film “Always a Bridesmaid.”
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Comments
I look forward to meeting Ryan... but I will never stop wanting Kate Kane recast .
#BatwomanisKateKane
I thought about this as well, as Javicia was announced.
I would say there won't be a big problem, if Kate returns and Ryan will become a partner of her.
The folks who love Kate Kane will then be happy that she is back.
The folks who joined because of Ryan might not be 100% happy, BUT will stick to the show to see her further adventures.
IF Ryan leaves the show, it could still be in a good way. Maybe she then had reached her goals as Batwoman (revenge on Scarecrow) and decides to leave Gotham or she gets killed as she saves some people in a most heroic way ...which might be a little more problematic, but still be a solid ending for her.
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And besides, until we come to the point to see what happens with Kate and Ryan late in season 2....we will be in June/July next year. In a whole year a lot of things can happen/change.
The political climate in the US can change a lot until then, I hope that the US people do the right thing in November.
And no one could be mad at the CW if a black woman like Ryan would leave the show. With Ryan... 3 out of 6 of the main cast are black next season. I learned that 13% of the US citizens are black. So even if Ryan leaves and would be "replaced" by Kate..... no one could complain about representation in the show. The CW can't be blamed in that direction in general.
And if Ryan really leaves...they always can promote Luke to become Batwing.
I had that same worry. In the current climate, there would be an insurmountable amount of rage for them to introduce a new POC lead, then slip the rug out from under and say "it was a red herring, Kate is back". This is just my opinion, but I feel like they've put themselves in a no-win situation. If they stick with Ryan Wilder, then they will have forever alienated and lost the viewers who tuned into Batwoman because they were a fan of Kate Kane in the comics, and wanted to see her show in live action (not to mention losing the Jewish representation Kate represented). And on the other hand, if they bring Kate back and bump Ryan Wilder down to a supporting role, the POC fans who tuned in because the show has a POC lead will be infuriated (and rightfully so, as that seems like a pretty low handed bait-and-switch).
I personally hope for Kate to be recast and return. But no matter what happens, a LARGE chunk of fandom and viewers will be alienated. It's just a matter of if it's Kate fans/comic fans, or the new fans who were only interested due to the new lead actress.
I hope we all get our wish that Kate Kane is eventually reinstated as Batwoman, as Batwoman is Kate Kane. However, in the current climate, I suspect if will be difficult to introduce a POC lead and then reintroduce a white lead. I think if Ryan doesn't work out, the series may be cancelled. This despite that virtually every site, fans overwhelmingly wanted Kate Kane recast over introducing a new character as Batwoman.
You may be hoping it will happen, I am betting on it
And outside this page I feel like a preacher in the land of the non-believers
Quoting Siggi:
Um, Siggi, uhm, you do realize that this is pretty much exactly what we've all been hoping for ever since they announced Ryan's character. Right?
Caroline better have a really damn good reason why Kate is MIA, and gives us hope very early on that she will be back.
Fingers crossed that you tell me, "I told you so!" LOL
Ok, I BET this will happen:
- Kate will disappear (already a fact)
- Ryan will become the new Batwoman (another fact)
- Kate will return at some point and retake the mantle as Batwoman
- Ryan Wilder, IF she stays, will become a partner/sidekick in the Bat team
I hope I can tell you "I told you so" sometime next year
Otherwise you can "unmask" me as a false prophet
I saw the pilot of GFM and I watch MacGyver regularly, but I can't place her... But, I am certain they looked for someone with some acting chops after the criticism they got about Ruby, who I liked and thought was comparable to Stephen Amell in the first season of Arrow. I hope Caroline Dries comes up with something to convince me the hairbrain idea of replacing Kate Kane makes sense. I just don't see it.
The only character that I could see stepping into the batsuit is Julia Pennyworth, Alfred's daughter, as she has suited up previously as a rouse and is connected to all of the key support players to some degree.... not as much as I'd like with Alice, but still connections are there. But, then only temporarily while they searched for missing Kate. This would be smart as they could put distance between Ruby and the new actress taking over for Kate and dim some of the comparisons. I do like the description of Ryan and if the actress acts half as good as she looks, she will be a nice addition. But, I would prefer her to be Flamebird, Nightwing or some other pivotal key player. It would not be a stretch to have her carry the Scarecrow arc as she acclimated to Team Bat. But, unlike Julia, I don't believe they'd just be okay with her suiting up as Batwoman or welcome her to the Batcave.
Like I said, I have to trust Dries will convince me otherwise.