“Batwoman” — the lesbian superhero — has received a pilot episode from The CW, and is considered a frontrunner for a series order.
If the series gets picked up, “Batwoman” would be historic because she would be the first gay or lesbian superhero to headline a live-action series. In 2018, Nafessa Williams made history as TV’s first black lesbian superhero, Thunder, on the CW drama “Black Lightning.”
The“Batwoman” news follows her appearance last month in The CW’s three-episode “Arrowverse” crossover event called “Elseworlds” that featured characters from three of the networks’ other superhero dramas, “Arrow,” “Supergirl,” and “The Flash.”
In “Elseworlds,” the superheroes teamed up to defeat The Monitor, a villain who changed reality.
BATWOMAN DEBUTS
Batwoman, based on the DC Comics character, was introduced during the crossover’s second fashion. In dramatic street fighting and in full costume, Batwoman helped capture violent inmates who had escaped Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum. Afterward, Batwoman told the other superheroes, in all seriousness, to leave Gotham City before they caused more trouble.
‘Arrow’ discloses that Oliver Queen’s son, William Clayton, is gay
Ruby Rose, who identifies as a lesbian, stars as Kate Kane, a.k.a. Batwoman. Rose is known for playing antagonist Stella Carlin, a lesbian inmate, in the Netflix women’s prison drama “Orange is the New Black.”
A possible “Batwoman” pilot was first discussed in July when her addition to the crossover event was announced.
Batwoman, right, made her TV debut last month during a CW crossover event featuring three of the networks superheroes, including Green Arrow, left. Ruby Rose stars as Kate Kane/Batwoman and Grant Gustin stars as and Grant Gustin stars as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. Photo: Jack Rowand/The CW.
WHO IS BATWOMAN?
“Batwoman” is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. In print, Kane is a former top student at the U.S. Military Academy West Point, who was dismissed for being a lesbian. After becoming a tattoo-covered party girl, she is saved from a mugging by Batman and has dedicated her life to fighting crime. Kane uses body armor and weapons she has stolen from her dad’s military base.
Here’s The CW’s official description of Kate Kane/Batwoman: “Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.”
The “Batwoman” pilot will be written by Caroline Dries (“The Vampire Diaries”), who also will be showrunner.
Greg Berlanti, the prolific writer-producer who identifies as gay, will executive produce.
Phillip Zonkel can be reached at 562-294-5996 or [email protected].
