The Arrow-verse on The CW is getting batty in the 2018-2019 TV season thanks to the upcoming introduction of Kate Kane, a.k.a. Batwoman. We've known that Batwoman is on the way for a while, but there was no news for about who would bring her to life for the first time in live action. Now, we finally know: Ruby Rose of Orange Is the New Black fame will tackle the role as the openly lesbian vigilante.
Ruby Rose will play Kate Kane in the character's first venture into live-action. As Batwoman, Kate Kane fights crime on the streets of Gotham City, likely without the help of Batman. A Batwoman series is in development to potentially hit the airwaves, but Rose will debut as Batwoman in the big Arrow-verse crossover that will bring three of the four Arrow-verse shows together for one big event in the fall. If Batwoman makes a big impression on viewers (and The CW) in the crossover, the odds aren't too shabby that she'll get her own show. Admittedly, The CW's lineup (now with one extra day of new programming) is pretty full. Still, the network has reason to prioritize its superheroes given the success the Arrow-verse has delivered since Arrow premiered back in 2012.
You may know Ruby Rose from her role as Stella Carlin in the third season of Orange Is the New Black on Netflix. If you're not a regular Orange Is the New Black viewer, you may recognize her from her work in movies like Pitch Perfect 3, XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, and John Wick: Chapter 2. Rose has the acting and action chops to make a killer impression as Batwoman. Her work in John Wick: Chapter 2 alone is proof that she can more than tackle whatever fight scenes come her way when she faces off against the worst Gotham has to offer in the Arrow-verse. EW's report of the casting is enough to get any superhero fan excited.
If Ruby Rose does end up headlining her own CW superhero series, the crossover will mark the second time that a superhero team-up launched a spinoff, after Arrow and The Flash kicked off Legends of Tomorrow back in 2015. Interestingly, the 2018-2019 crossover will be the first in the Arrow-verse to entirely leave out one of the shows on Earth-1. Legends of Tomorrow will be left out of the crossover, with only Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl contributing episodes. That's not to say that none of the Legends will be on hand -- and I know I want to witness Sara meeting Kate -- but the crossover will be a three-hour affair this year rather than another four-hour event like last year. Hopefully we can also see the women of Supergirl show their reactions to Batwoman.
We already have a theory about how the Arrow-verse should introduce Batwoman, and it has everything to do with a tease dropped by Arrow leading man Stephen Amell at San Diego Comic-Con. Check out our rundown of upcoming Arrow-verse characters to see who will be coming to the shows for the first time in the fall, and don't forget to swing by our fall premiere schedule.
