Ruby Rose has been cast by The CW to play Kate Kane, better known as Batwoman.
She will make her first Batwoman appearance during The CW’s annual DC Arrowverse crossover event later this year. A Batwoman series is also in development, which will be written and executive produced by Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries). Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Geoff Johns will also be executive producers.
The official logline for the Batwoman series reads: “Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence.
“But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.”
If picked up as a series, it will be the first live-action superhero series to feature a gay lead character. Batwoman is already a LGBTQ+ trailblazer within the comic book series, and was revealed to be a lesbian when her character was reintroduced in 2006.
Ruby, who herself identifies as gender fluid, is an actress, model, DJ, and presenter. She gained global success as Stella in Orange In The New Black, whilst her other credits include Pitch Perfect 3, John Wick: Chapter 2, XXx: Return of Xander Cage, and The Meg.
We can expect to catch the first glimpse of Ruby as Batwoman in the Arrowverse crossover in December (specific date to be announced), whilst the standalone series is expected to air in 2019 if greenlit.