The CW's Batwoman found Javicia Leslie, its newest star, thanks to a Zoom audition. After news broke that Ruby Rose, who'd played Kate Kane in the first season of the show, was leaving the show, there was much speculation regarding the fate of Batwoman's leading character. While show producers initially intended to recast another actress as Kate Kane, they later decided on replacing Kane's character altogether.
Season 1 of Batwoman followed the adventures of Kate Kane, a member of the Batfamily determined to protect Gotham in Batman's absence. That being said, season 2 will now focus on Ryan Wilder, an ex-criminal created specifically for the show who will take up the cowl to become the new Batwoman. Although story details for season 2 are still largely up in the air, the CW's released synopsis confirms one of Wilder's focuses will be dealing with the "recently escaped rogues' gallery of villains." While the CW hasn't revealed how Kate Kane's exit will be addressed, it's likely more information will be provided closer to Batwoman's season 2 premiere in January 2021.
THR reports that Leslie, the show's newest Batwoman, won her role through a Zoom conference call. Although the audition was entirely virtual, Leslie highlights that she instantly connected to the character, and resonated with Wilder's "quirky but 'I'm a boss if I have to be'" mindset. When asked about her audition, showrunner Caroline Dries confirms that Leslie is undoubtedly the embodiment of Ryan Wilder, stating that her performance "blew everyone else away."
Leslie also mentions that she's excited for the physical rigor that being Batwoman will demand; if anything, it's one of the aspects of playing Wilder that she's most excited about. As someone who does Muay Thai and fitness training, Leslie emphasizes that training for Batwoman should fit well into her daily life. More specifically, she underscores that being active is something she's "always down for" and compares it to "playing on the playground every day." Leslie is clearly excited to play Batwoman in the Arrowverse, and it's clear that she's taking the role seriously. This, combined with Warner Bros. clear confidence in the actress, indicates that Batwoman could turn into one of the CW's most popular shows.
Leslie's casting also continues to embody the representation at the core of Batwoman. Leslie is not only bisexual, which will honor the CW's earlier confirmation that the openly lesbian Kate Kane would be replaced with another titular character from the LGBTQ+ community, but will be the first black actress to play Batwoman on television. That being said, while Ruby Rose shined in the role of Kate Kane, there's little doubt that Leslie will make Ryan Wilder a beloved fan favorite as well.
Source: THR