It’s official: Ruby Rose is bound for Gotham City.
The Orange is the New Black star, who’s coming hot off her performance in late-summer blockbuster The Meg, has signed on to play Batwoman for The CW, which is shaping up to be every bit as groundbreaking as we’ve come to expect.
Poised for her small-screen debut via December’s by-now traditional Arrowverse crossover, Rose will then be able to spread her wings for The CW’s standalone Batwoman series. From what we understand, it’s still gestating in the bowels of development, with Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries) and franchise architect Greg Berlanti on board to write and executive produce, respectively.
That means that, at least for now, there’s no guarantee of a series order, but that has in no way quelled Ruby Rose’s excitement. Over on Instagram, the actress, a prominent member of the LGBTQ community, voiced her delight of landing such an important, prescient role.
The Bat is out of the bag and I am beyond thrilled and honored. I’m also an emotional wreck.. because this is a childhood dream. This is something I would have died to have seen on TV when I was a young member of the LGBT community who never felt represented on tv and felt alone and different. Thank you everyone. Thank you god.
She’ll take on the dual part of Kate Kane/Batwoman, a “highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence.” Or so says the official synopsis from The CW.
Whatever the outcome, this announcement is a huge coup for LGBTQ representation, and further proof that The CW continues to leave its cinematic brethren in the dust when it comes to equality and inclusivity in the superhero genre – Legends of Tomorrow and Arrow both feature the openly bisexual character Sara Lance, for instance.
Still no mention of when Batwoman will go before the cameras, but last we reported, The CW was said to be targeting spring 2019. Watch this space for more.