It was announced last month that Ruby Rose would make a shock exit from Batwoman after the actress had inhabited the role of Kate Kane for just one season on The CW series. Now, it’s been confirmed that the team behind the show have decided to create a new lead character for Season 2.
As confirmed by Deadline, Season 2 will follow the emergence of ‘Ryan Wilder’, who is set to replace Rose’s Kane as Batwoman’s next iteration. A leaked casting call, which landed on Reddit before being republished on Decider and later declared legit by Deadline – the internet, ladies and gentlemen! – reveals that Ryan Wilder will be at the centre of the series’ “new direction” promised by Warner Bros. Television, The CW and Berlanti Productions when Rose jumped ship.
Actresses sought for the new lead role of Ryan Wilder are required to be “female, mid-late 20s, any ethnicity,” and the character 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.”
The casting call adds “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. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat 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.”
Rose officially quit the role of Batwoman on May 19, releasing a statement that gave no clear reason for her departure:
“I have made the very difficult decision to not return to Batwoman next season,” she said (via Variety). “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.”
As rumors swirled around the potential truth behind her exit, sources told Variety that Rose left Batwoman because she “was unhappy with the long hours required of her as the series lead, which led to friction on the set,” but the actress seemingly responded to the various rumors and reports on Instagram by simply writing “I have stayed silent because that’s my choice for now.”
We should have some further news about who exactly will replace Rose as Batwoman in Season 2 soon. They will be joining an established supporting cast that includes Dougray Scott, Rachel Skarsten, Meagan Tandy, Nicole Kang and Camrus Johnson.
The CW is currently eyeing a January, 2021 date for the show’s return.