Batwoman has cast Riverdale's Robin Givens in a key role for season 3. Caroline Dries' superhero drama that shares continuity with the other shows in the Arrowverse, Batwoman originally served as a solo venture for Ruby Rose's Kate Kane, who had become wildly popular after her appearance in the crossover event Elseworlds. Initially, the series navigated Kate's adventures across Gotham City as she took to protect its streets after the mysterious disappearance of her philanthropist cousin, Bruce Wayne. But after season 1, Rose exited Batwoman, paving the way for the series to introduce a new character to assume her mantle. God Friended Me's Javicia Leslie was then subsequently cast as Ryan Wilder, a street-level hero who transforms into Gotham's new vigilante.
Only recently, Batwoman concluded season 2, wrapping up several arcs on explosive notes and giving viewers closure about the fate of the original heroine, Kate Kane. Part of the finale was devoted to Ryan fully embracing her role as Batwoman, while the ending – in which Batman villain trophies appear in a river – was aimed at setting the stage for season 3. As for the climax, it involved some big reveals, with the key one dealing with Ryan's past. After Ryan goes to meet Alice in prison, the villain informs her that her biological mother, whom she believed to have died during childbirth, is very much alive. Now, Batwoman season 3 will delve into Ryan's backstory and family, and at the same time, bring some new characters into the fold.
As reported by Deadline, Givens has joined Batwoman as a series regular for season 3. She will play Jada Jet, the enterprising CEO of Jet Industries, who has given it all to work her way up the corporate ladder. While Jada is good at heart, she can go to any lengths to protect her "impetuous son." Jada also has a troubled past, as she was forced to give up her firstborn for reasons that are, as of yet, unclear.
Batwoman's confirmation about Ryan's mother being alive and Givens' casting as a woman who had to abandon her offspring upon childbirth cannot be a mere coincidence. Rather, it seems like a clear indication that Givens' Jada is Ryan's estranged mother, whom she presumed to be dead for so long. Of course, this bit of news hasn't been officially confirmed, and viewers will have to wait until season 3 to find out if it is actually true. Meanwhile, there have also been other casting updates related to Batwoman. For one, Dougray Scott, who was a regular in seasons 1 and 2, won't reprise his role for Batwoman season 3, and Wallis Day, who briefly took over from Rose as Kate Kane, will likely not appear either, as Kate's story was very much wrapped up in the finale.
Givens' casting suggests a step in a new direction for Batwoman, which is now shifting its focus from Kate's family to Ryan's. Obviously, since Ryan isn't pulled directly from the comics, incorporating her backstory in a way that falls in line with the DC lore could be tricky. But it looks like Batwoman has finally found its way around that problem through the casting of Jada Jet. Jada could be inspired by the character Jezebel Jet, a supermodel and undercover Black Glove agent who shared a brief romance with Bruce Wayne. If that is true, and Jada is Ryan's mother, then it means that Batwoman has found a link between its former and current vigilantes, thereby ripening the upcoming story for dramatization.
Source: Deadline