ABOVE: Javicia Leslie. (Photo courtesy Twitter)
Actress Javicia Leslie has been tapped by The CW to play the new lead character of the GLAAD Media-nominated “Batwoman,” officially replacing the character played by actress Ruby Rose in the show’s debut season.
On July 8, Warner Bros. TV encouraged viewers to “[s]ay hello to the new Batwoman” in a tweet that formally announced that Leslie had been cast to play the title character in the show.
Say hello to the new Batwoman! @CWBatwoman pic.twitter.com/7F8Wfshs6X
— Warner Bros. TV (@warnerbrostv) July 8, 2020
Leslie is set to portray the character of Ryan Wilder, an “[a]thletic[,] [r]aw[,] [p]assionate and [f]allible” out-lesbian with a difficult past.
“Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the Gotham City PD and masking her pain with bad habits,” a casting call for the character states.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, Leslie is the first Black actress to play Batwoman in a live-action television adaptation of the character. This, coupled with the fact that Leslie is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, makes this moment in her career especially poignant for her.
“I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community,” Leslie said.
This instance of inclusive media representation is not lost on fans, who took to Twitter to share their thoughts on Leslie’s casting. User softlcorp expressed a sense of joy over the recent announcement, while irisckp pleaded to The CW to protect Leslie from mistreatment in the industry. LGBTQ+ organizations GLAAD and the National Center for Lesbian Rights also acknowledged the significance of Leslie’s casting by sharing the news on their Twitter profiles.
JAVICIA LESLIE, A BLACK BISEXUAL WOMAN, HAS JUST BEEN CAST AS #BATWOMAN I’M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/NmtL1ZDSvU
— ʟᴀʏ. ✿ (@softlcorp) July 8, 2020
Please. Please protect Javicia Leslie, you know you haven’t protected your black actresses in the past, namely Candice Patton, do better, ensure her safety AND well-being. Wipe the slate clean with this new batwoman and do well by this actress, and your other black actors. @TheCW
— skye | @waawards co-host (@irisckp) July 8, 2020
“I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show, which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community.”https://t.co/blItwNUpFA
— GLAAD (@glaad) July 8, 2020
Congrats @JaviciaLeslie! 🦹🏾♀️🦇 https://t.co/KzanFuKyIt
— National Center for Lesbian Rights (@NCLRights) July 9, 2020
The CW’s decision to recast Batwoman and create a new protagonist was prompted by Rose’s exit from the series in May.
“I have made the very difficult decision to not return to ‘Batwoman’ next season,” Rose said at the time. “This was not a decision I made lightly as I have the utmost respect for the cast, crew and everyone involved with the show in both Vancouver and in Los Angeles.”
Leslie has previously appeared on the CBS dramedy “God Friended Me” and the BET crime drama “The Family Business.” The second season of “Batwoman” is expected to air on The CW in January 2021.
