Ruby Rose Exits ‘Batwoman,’ Role to Be Recast with LGBTQ Actress
The CW’s Batwoman will have to say goodbye to the actress who plays the titular main character. Orange is the Black Alum and star of the DC series released a statement announcing her exit ahead of the show’s second season.
“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 obtained by TV Line.
“I am beyond appreciative to [exec 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,” Rose added.
“Thank you [WB chief] Peter Roth and [CW president] 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.”
Batwoman was renewed for Season 2 back in January and just aired its Season 1 finale last Sunday.
No statement has been made as to why Rose is exiting the series so early in its run, but sources from Deadline stated that it is not related to the stunt injury she sustained early in Season 1 filming that left her facing the possibility of paralysis.
Rose was a major get for the series in the summer of 2018. Originally she was just going to appear in the 2018-2019 Arrowverse crossover, and later her character was optioned for a pilot.
In the series’ freshman run, Rose has broken barriers by playing the first LGBT lead character in a superhero series. Rose’s character came out to Gotham City on Batwoman Season 1 Episode 10, “How Queer Everything Is Today.”
In a joint statement, Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros Television vowed to cast another LGBTQ actress in the role.
“[We] 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 two companies said.
Last week it was announced that The CW was also planning a small scale crossover event with Batwoman and their newest DC universe addition, Superman & Lois, set to happen in the first or second quarter of 2021.
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Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.