After Ruby Rose walked away from the iconic role in May, CW's Batwoman series has found its new lead in Javicia Leslie. The actress, known for starring in comedy-drama God Friended Me on CBS, is set to debut in the much-anticipated second season of Batwoman, scheduled to be aired in January 2021. Thus, she becomes the first Black actress to play the role in a live-action TV show or in movies.
"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 in a statement.
According to
Variety, Leslie will play Ryan Wilder (a new character to be introduced) who is described as "likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed", according to Warner Bros., producers of the series. She is taking over from Kate Kane, aka Batwoman, and will reportedly play an LGBTQIA+ character on the series. Kane was earlier essayed by Ruby Rose, who left the show after one season. So what makes Wilder's character distinguishable from Kane? She's also described as "nothing like Kate Kane, the woman who wore the Batsuit before her" and "not your stereotypical all-American hero," CNN reported.
What You Should Know
- Javicia Leslie is the new Batwoman, taking over the role from Ruby Rose.
- She is the first Black actress to play the role on TV or in movies.
- Javicia will star in the iconic role that has been played by big names like Alicia Silverstone and Ruby Rose
Sharing her excitement about her new role on Instagram, Leslie wrote: "For all of the little black girls dreaming to be a superhero one day... it’s possible!"
We have seen Leslie in other TV dramas like The Family Business and 2019 rom-com Always a Bridesmaid. Leslie is trained in "muay thai, boxing, and weapons," according to her IMDb, and she is perfect as the new superhero. She also likes to dance, track, and swim.
Rose slew as Batwoman but after an injury on the set, she was required to have emergency surgery. However, Deadline reported her decision to leave the show was not related to the injury. She said it had been a "very difficult decision" not to return to the show, which made history with its first gay superhero character as the lead, according to BBC.
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“As a lesbian who’s been working as a writer for the past fifteen years, I’m well aware of the ‘Bury Your Gays’ trope and I have no interest in participating in it,” Batwoman showrunner Caroline Dries told Deadline. “That’s why it’s important to me as the showrunner to clarify any misinformation out there about Kate Kane and recasting Batwoman. Like you, 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.”
Feature Image Credit: SuperHeroHype.com
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