Batwoman is an American superhero television series developed by Caroline Dries for The CW. Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, it is part of the Arrowverse television franchise. The series premiered on October 6, 2019, and ran for three seasons until March 2, 2022, before its cancellation on April 29. The first season follows Kate Kane, the cousin of vigilante Bruce Wayne, who becomes Batwoman after his disappearance. The second and third seasons focus on former convict Ryan Wilder as she protects Gotham City in the role of Batwoman.
Development on a Batwoman series began in 2018 after it was announced that Kate would appear in the Arrowverse crossover "Elseworlds". Ruby Rose was cast as Kate the same year, with Batwoman receiving a series order in 2019. Shortly after the conclusion of the first season, Rose exited the series and Javicia Leslie was cast as Ryan, an original character created to succeed Kate. Following the series' cancellation, Leslie reprised her role in the ninth and final season of The Flash.
Series overview
The series follows Kate Kane and Ryan Wilder overcoming their demons by becoming vigilantes and fighting crime in Gotham City.
In the first season, following the disappearance of Gotham City-based vigilante Batman, Kate discovers that her cousin Bruce Wayne was Batman and decides to follow in his footsteps by becoming her own vigilante using her prior military skills, coined "Batwoman" by the media, with the help of tech-expert and former Wayne Enterprises employee Luke Fox, and her stepsister Mary Hamilton, who eventually discovers Kate is Batwoman. Meanwhile, Kate's father Jacob had formed a security firm known as the Crows during Batman's absence and has come into conflict with the Wonderland Gang, led by the psychotic serial killer Alice all while Batwoman attempts to convince the Crows she is on their side of the war as they won't accept help from masked vigilantes. Kate deduces that Alice is her fraternal twin sister Beth, who was presumed dead following a car accident.
In the second season, following Kate Kane's supposed death from a plane crash, homeless ex-con Ryan Wilder finds the bat-suit from the plane wreckage and takes up the mantle of Batwoman to avenge her mother's death. Meanwhile, Alice explores more of her past which she has mysterious connections with a man named Ocean and a mysterious enemy known as Safiyah Sohail – the woman who had Enigma erase those memories for unknown reasons; In addition, the Crows face up against a new drug dealing organization known as the False Face Society led by Black Mask. Unbeknownst to everyone, Black Mask has Kate hostage after the False Face Society raided her airplane and had Enigma brainwash her to be his daughter Circe Sionis who perished the day when Alice caused a mass breakout at Arkham Asylum. In addition, Black Mask later has Jacob arrested by the police officers on his side for withholding the information that Alice is Beth Kane where Jacob cuts a deal that gets him placed in a prison in Metropolis while "Circe" gains Jacob and Mary's trust in order to steal some items belonging to Batman's enemies. When Alice defeats Black Mask and helps Ryan cure Kate of the Circe persona, she is arrested by the police and remanded to Arkham Asylum with Black Mask. With Kate back to normal, she leaves Gotham to go visit her father and Supergirl before going to look for Bruce. While visiting Alice, Ryan learns that her biological mother is still alive. As for the stolen items that ended up in the river during the conflict, they wash up on shore as a container of one of Poison Ivy's plants breaks open.
In the third and final season, Ryan and Luke begin the hunt for the missing Batman villain trophies like one of Poison Ivy's plants, Mad Hatter's hat, Killer Croc's tooth, and Mr. Freeze's liquid nitrogen where it falls into the hands of different people. Due to some intimidation from former Gotham City Police Department member Renee Montoya, Ryan has no choice but to have Alice as a consultant when looking for the missing trophies. In addition, Ryan finds out that her biological mother is Jeturian Industries' CEO Jada Jet as she also meets her half-brother Marquis, who has a dark past that revolved around a bus that was hijacked by Joker when he was young. Mary gets possessed by Poison Ivy's plant and acts as her proxy. Renee finds Poison Ivy's body and gets her back to her mobile state as she finally meets with Mary's possessed form to get back to full power. After Poison Ivy is defeated and relocated to Coryana with Renee, Batwoman is left to deal with Marquis. Batwoman uses the Joker's joy buzzer to restore Marquis back to normal, while the Joker acid he was going to distribute over Gotham City exploded over a desolate part of the area.
Cast and characters
Ruby Rose (season 1) and Wallis Day (recurring: season 2) as Katherine "Kate" Kane / Batwoman / Circe Sionis: Bruce Wayne's maternal first cousin who, armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, dedicates herself to defending Gotham in Batman's absence. Gracyn Shinyei portrays a younger Kate. After going missing in the beginning of the second season when the False Face Society crashes her plane, she is rescued by the Society's leader, who has her surgically altered to resemble his late daughter. Day also portrays the original Circe Sionis in photographs. Rachel Skarsten as Elizabeth "Beth" Kane / Alice: Kate's presumed-dead fraternal twin sister and the leader of the Wonderland Gang with an ever-changing personality who sets out to erode Gotham's sense of security. Ava Sleeth portrays a younger Beth. Skarsten also portrayed an alternate version of Beth who was displaced from her native Earth during "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and appeared on Earth-Prime. This version did not get lost during the car accident. She was later killed by August Cartwright, who mistook her for Alice. Meagan Tandy as Sophie Moore: A military academy graduate, former high-level Crows agent, and Kate's estranged ex-girlfriend who serves as one of Gotham's protectors. She eventually finds out Kate is the original Batwoman and Wilder is the new one, and becomes an ally. Nicole Kang as Mary Hamilton: Kate and Beth's stepsister and a medical student/influencer-in-the-making who makes it her mission to provide aid to those living in Gotham's under-served communities. She eventually discovers Kate is Batwoman and joins her. Camrus Johnson as Lucas "Luke" Fox / Batwing: The son of the late Lucius Fox and a staunch Batman loyalist who keeps Wayne Tower secure in Batman's absence. After Kate becomes Batwoman, he comes to understand that Gotham needs a new hero and becomes an ally to her. Johnson also portrays his Earth-99 counterpart, who serves as the retired Batman's personal aide. Elizabeth Anweis as Catherine Hamilton-Kane (season 1): Kate's stepmother and one of Gotham's most powerful citizens who made her fortune as a defense contractor and the CEO of Hamilton Dynamics. After Alice poisoned her and Mary, Catherine chose to give Mary the antidote. Dougray Scott as Jacob Kane (seasons 1–2): Kate and Beth's father and a former military colonel with a chip on his shoulder who commanded a private security agency, the Crows, in an attempt to protect Gotham more effectively than Batman could. He eventually disbands the Crows in season 2. Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder / Batwoman (seasons 2–3): A highly skilled yet undisciplined fighter living out of her van with her plant who becomes the new Batwoman after finding the Batsuit in the wreck of the airplane bringing Kate back from National City. Victoria Cartagena as Renee Montoya (season 3): A former police officer in the Gotham City Police Department who left when she could no longer stomach its corruption. Robin Givens as Jada Jet (season 3): The CEO of Jeturian Industries who is Ryan's biological mother. Nick Creegan as Marquis Jet (season 3): The playboy son of Jada Jet, executive vice-president of Jeturian Industries, and half-brother of Ryan.
LaMonica Garrett also stars on "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two" as Mar Novu / Monitor, a multiversal being who tests different Earths in the multiverse in preparation for an impending "crisis" orchestrated by his polar opposite, Mobius / Anti-Monitor.
Production Development In May 2018, The CW president Mark Pedowitz and Arrow lead Stephen Amell announced at The CW's upfront presentation that Batwoman would be introduced in the Arrowverse series' 2018 crossover, "Elseworlds", which aired in December 2018, fighting alongside the other Arrowverse heroes, with Gotham City also appearing. In July 2018, it was reported that The CW was planning to develop a series around the character, to air in 2019 if picked up. The series, said to only be a "script-development deal", was written by Caroline Dries, who would also serve as an executive producer with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schecter, and the character's co-creator Geoff Johns. The series would be produced by Berlanti Productions and Mad Ghost Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. The following month, Pedowitz noted the pilot would be completed "for mid-season".
In December 2018, Dries submitted a "strong" script for a potential pilot episode, according to Nellie Andreeva of Deadline Hollywood. That led to the series receiving a pilot order from The CW the next month, to be considered for a series order in the 2019–20 television season. As of April 2019, the series was considered "a lock" at The CW, and reportedly had a writing staff in place. On May 7, 2019, The CW ordered the show to series. On October 25, 2019, the series was picked up for a full season of 22 episodes. On January 7, 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on January 17, 2021.
On February 3, 2021, The CW renewed the series for a third season which premiered on October 13, 2021, and the finale aired on March 2, 2022. On April 29, 2022, The CW canceled the series after three seasons.
Casting Casting for Kate Kane was expected to begin after the announcement of the intended series in May 2018, with the intention of casting an openly gay actress. In August, Ruby Rose was cast as Kate Kane / Batwoman. In late January 2019, Meagan Tandy, Camrus Johnson and Nicole Kang were cast in the series regular roles as Sophie Moore, Luke Fox and Mary Hamilton, respectively. This was followed shortly by the casting of Rachel Skarsten as Alice, Dougray Scott as Jacob Kane, and Elizabeth Anweis as Catherine Hamilton-Kane.
The casting of Rose as Batwoman was met by backlash on social media and received intense criticism. DC Comics, which owns the rights to the long-time comic book superheroine Batwoman, reintroduced the character in 2006 as a gay Jewish woman. Some online reactions attacked Rose for not being Jewish, while the main focus of the criticism was the assertion that the fact that she considers herself gender-fluid made her "not gay enough." Rose left Twitter and deactivated public commenting on her Instagram account following the backlash.
In July 2021, Robin Givens, Victoria Cartagena and Nick Creegan were cast as new series regulars for the third season. In August 2021, Bridget Regan was cast in the recurring role of Poison Ivy for the third season.
Rose's departure and recasting of Batwoman