Several Arrowverse characters have been recast over the years, with the latest being Ruby Rose as Batwoman. Since Arrow premiered in 2012, The CW quickly grew a shared universe with numerous spinoffs, from The Flash, to next year's Superman & Lois, which means an extensive list of actors have starred as DC’s most iconic heroes and villains. After being cast in 2018 as Bruce Wayne’s cousin, who became Gotham’s new protector in the Elseworlds crossover, Rose went on to star as the lead of Batwoman, a journey that would come with a surprising twist.
Following the Batwoman season 1 finale, Rose, together with Warner Bros. TV and The CW, announced that she’d be departing the series as Kate Kane. After coming out with her own statement, reports have since emerged about how it was a mutual break-up between Rose and the production. This marks the first time that an Arrowverse series has lost the leading actor in the main role. While Batwoman will be recast for season 2, it’ll still always be a major moment in the franchise’s run.
Even though it’s the first time the head character has had to be recast, the Arrowverse has cast new actors as previously established characters before. Whether it’s been due to the original actor’s availability or for story reasons, the Arrowverse has had its fair share of recasts for both heroes and villains. And given how many shows are still on the air, Batwoman may not be the last - but it remains to be seen exactly who will take over for Rose in the role.
Sara Lance
In the Arrow pilot, Laurel Lance’s (Katie Cassidy) sister Sara was initially played by Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, but only in the flashbacks. When Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) went on his trip on the Queen Gambit, he cheated on Laurel by hooking up with Sara. But karma had its way with their actions as the ship sank. Believing Sara had died, the younger Lance sister came to play a larger role beginning in season 2.
But this time it wasn’t Wood portraying Sara as she got recast with Caity Lotz. Sara, who didn’t originate from the comics, began a journey in Arrow season 2 as The Canary, setting up Laurel’s Black Canary transformation. Years later, her story lead to her becoming a main character on Legends of Tomorrow. She became one of the Arrowverse’s original creations as well as one of its most popular ones, since White Canary has been a fan-favorite for several seasons.
Not bringing Wood back as Sara was likely a combination of her availability as well as the producers wanting someone that could handle the physical action work that came with being The Canary, and later the White Canary. With Lotz having a background in martial arts and dancing, she has continued to make Sara a convincing superhero over the past few years.
Alura Zor-El
Across all the Arrowverse shows, all the main heroes’ parents have appeared in various capacities. In the case of Supergirl, Alura Zor-El played a specific part until the later seasons where the series unveiled a big twist. When the show first premiered, Laura Benanti was cast as Kara’s mother from Krypton. Believed to have died in the planet’s destruction, Alura was present in Kara’s life as an A.I. and continued to appear as a hologram in the first two seasons.
Benanti reprised Alura in a number of flashbacks while also portraying her twin sister, Astra, who was killed by Alex Danvers in the second half of season 1. But for Supergirl season 3, the role of Alura was recast with Smallville star Erica Durance taking over the role. That season revealed that Argo City had actually survived and Alura was one of several Kryptonian survivors. The reason why Benanti was replaced by Durance was due to her ongoing commitments in New York, as explained during the recasting announcement.
With the producers wanting to integrate Alura more into Supergirl and Benanti not having the availability, the role had to be recast in order for the storyline to be executed. Having played Lois Lane for six seasons on Smallville, Durance taking over as Alura became another legacy casting for the Arrowverse. That's why she played double-duty in Crisis on Infinite Earths; she also starred as Lois from Earth-167 with Tom Welling's Superman.
Mr. Mxyzptlk
Throughout Supergirl’s run, several villains from Superman’s rogues’ gallery have appeared, with some having lasted longer than others. In season 2, Mr. Mxyzptlk joined the Arrowverse for a 2-episode arc where the fifth-dimensional Imp was portrayed by Peter Gadiot. During his first appearance, Mxyzptlk had come to Earth to win Kara’s heart. At the time, Kara was just coming to terms with her feelings for Mon-El (Chris Wood) right when Mxyzptlk crashed into her life. After a long battle, Supergirl managed to get Mxyzptlk to say his name backward, which sent him back to his own dimension.
That would be the last time that viewers would see this version of the DC imp as the character didn’t come until Supergirl season 5, but was also recast. After a surprise cameo in Supergirl season 5, episode 12, “Back From the Future – Part 2”, Mxyzptlk took part in the show's 100th episode. This time, however, he was played by Thomas Lennon, and while it isn’t always easy for a show to address a recast character, Supergirl was able to do it.
At the beginning of “It’s a Super Life”, when he was asked why he changed his appearance, Mxyzptlk explains that he only appeared to look like he did in season 2 to charm Kara in his attempt to win her heart. Throughout his appearance in the 100th episode, while trying to help Kara fix her relationship with Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath), Lennon’s interpretation felt more like the comic version of the Superman foe.
General Sam Lane
With Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) becoming a bigger part of the Arrowverse through Superman & Lois, it gave the franchise a reason to expand General Sam Lane’s role in the franchise. While Lois never appeared in Supergirl season 1, both her father and sister did, with Glenn Morshower and Jenna Dewan portraying Sam and Lucy, respectively. Once the series moved to The CW for its second season, Morshower and Dewan didn't return.
In Supergirl season 1, General Lane served as a recurring obstacle to the Girl of Steel and the D.E.O., as he and the military would butt heads with them numerous times. Morshower’s version of Sam was last seen in the season 1 finale where he gave Maxwell Lord (Peter Facinelli) the Omegahedron, which was never followed upon. Following the move to The CW, the Lane family wouldn’t have a presence until Lois debuted during the Elseworlds crossover.
For Superman & Lois, Dylan Walsh will be taking over as Sam Lane and will be a series regular. What remains unclear though is why Morshower wasn’t asked to reprise the role; furthermore, it hasn't been revealed why Sam Lane was recast. With the latest Arrowverse spinoff not premiering until January 2021, it’ll be a while until viewers get a taste of his interpretation of Sam Lane.