The CW’s Batwoman has found its new Poison Ivy in the form of Agent Carter’s Bridget Regan. In the 2015 Marvel spinoff series, Regan played Dottie Underwood, a Russian sleeper agent who served as a precursor to the infamous Black Widow program. In addition to her time in the Marvel Universe, Regan has also played recurring roles on Legend of the Seeker, White Collar, and Jane the Virgin, as well as appearing in 2014's John Wick.
In the final moments of the Batwoman season 2 finale, a number of classic Batman villains were teased as the Penguin’s umbrella and Mad Hatter’s hat were seen floating in the Gotham River. Meanwhile, Poison Ivy’s signature vines began to take root on the shore. One of Batman’s best-known villains, Poison Ivy made her comic book debut in 1966 as a botanist and biochemist who possesses the ability to control plant life and uses pheromones for mind-control purposes. Previously the role has been played by Uma Thurman in 1997’s Batman and Robin, and by Clare Foley, Maggie Geha, and Peyton List in Fox’s Gotham television series.
More recently, Variety has reported that The CW Arrowverse will be introducing their own version of the character with Regan in the role. Set to star opposite Javicia Leslie’s Ryan Wilder, the announcement of Regan’s casting suggests that she will appear in a recurring guest role throughout the new season slated to premiere on October 13th. No word currently exists regarding whether the other classic villains teased in the season 2 finale are also set to join her.
While Batwoman has been heavily steeped in Batman mythology, over the past two seasons, many of the Dark Knight’s best-known villains have only been hinted at or mentioned in passing. While this has allowed both Ryan Wilder and her predecessor Kate Kane, to more fully take ownership of their role as Gotham City’s caped crusader, many fans have been keen to see some of the bigger names in the Gotham rogues' gallery make their appearance. This latest news is hopefully the start of a new trend that may foretell the inclusion of other classic Batman villains.
One question many DC fans may have about this latest news is whether or not Poison Ivy’s presence may even hint at an eventual cameo from her frequent comic book collaborator and paramour, Harley Quinn. Quinn’s existence in the Arrowverse herself has previously been hinted at in Arrow, and the show once had plans to further expand her role before those ideas were squashed for the character’s debut appearance in the DCEU’s Suicide Squad. Either way, fans will be eager to see what Regan makes of her version of Poison Ivy when she hits screens in Batwoman season 3 come October.
Source: Variety