Ruby Rose Cast as CW's Batwoman, 'Honored' and an 'Emotional Wreck' at Role's Significance

"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," Rose wrote on Instagram. The character will enter the DC Arrowverse this season and potentially score her own series.

August 7, 2018

DC has been doing a great job with their shows on the CW, and now it looks as if they've got another potential series on their hands. Australian actress Ruby Rose, who had her breakout role as Stella in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black, has been cast in the role of Batwoman, who will enter the Arrowverse (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow) in the network's annual crossover event between the four shows. (The CW and DC's Black Lightning, entering season 2, is unaffiliated so far, and showrunner Salim Akil wants a Lightning-verse.)

On Instagram, Rose wrote, "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." As a result, she's "thrilled and honored" but "also an emotional wreck."

Batwoman, real name Kate Kane, is an openly gay character reintroduced in 2006 as part of the publisher's efforts to offer more diverse heroes. Rose may end up with her own series if the in-development Batwoman pilot goes well. If the show gets picked up, it will premiere during the 2019-2020 season. Batwoman's not to be confused with Batgirl, the alter-ego of Commissioner James Gordon's daughter Barbara Gordon, who's got a film coming, as does Supergirl.

Caroline Dries is serving as the writer and executive producer for Batwoman, with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schehter will also executive producing. Former DC Entertainment head Geoff Johns will be involved as an executive producer, too, producing through his Mad Ghost Productions banner.