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Ruby Rose, 34, confirmed on Tuesday that she’s vacating Kate Kane ‘s iconic DC Comics role, aka Batwoman, after only one season on The CW superhero drama, leaving the show temporarily without a star. Because of Rose ‘s sudden exit, when Batwoman returns for a second season in 2021, the network and studio will recast the role with a new lead-actress. The series, which just broadcast its early freshman finale two days ago, is expected to again anchor for The CW on Sunday nights.
“I have made the very difficult decision to not return to Batwoman next season. 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,” Rose said in a statement. “I am beyond appreciative to [executive producers] 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.”
“Warner Bros. Television, The CW and Berlanti Productions thank Ruby for her contributions to the success of our first season and wish her all the best. The studio and network are firmly committed to Batwoman’s second season and long-term future, and we — along with the show’s talented creative team — look forward to sharing its new direction, including the casting of a new lead actress and member of the LGBTQ community, in the coming months,” the studio, network and Berlanti’s production company said in a joint statement.
Batwoman was the first peak-time television comic book drama featuring a lesbian superhero at the helm. Rose’s casting, which is openly gay, was encountered with huge fanfare in August 2018 while this backlash forced the Australian actress to delete her Twitter.
Rose made her on-screen debut as Batwoman months later in December 2018 as part of The CW ‘s annual Arrow-verse crossover event before transitioning to her own star vehicle with Batwoman.
The CW formalized plans for next year’s DC crossover event just last week which would feature Batwoman and new series, Superman & Lois.
It’s extremely rare for a television series to lose its main star after a season, but after a season in 2018, the CW weathered the storm before primetime soap Dynasty broke out with its female lead, Nathalie Kelley. As a result, with a revolving door of new characters and members, the show embraced its larger-than-life soap opera antics. On Batwoman it will surely be a different story.