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Australian model turned actor Ruby Rose will not be returning to the lead role in Batwoman for the show’s second season.
Warner Bros. TV, which produces the CW series, announced Rose’s departure yesterday, just a couple of days after the first season’s finale. It says a new actor will be cast to play the lead.
Batwoman made history by featuring its hero as a gay woman. Producer Greg Berlanti and showrunner Caroline Dries specifically wanted a member of the LGBTQ community to take the role of Kate Kane/Batwoman, which led to them casting Rose. Before this, Rose’s most high-profile role was in Orange Is The New Black.
Related: ‘Batwoman’ Ruby Rose nearly paralyzed after stunt-related injury on-set
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In a statement, Rose did not explain the decision.
“I have made the very difficult decision to not return to Batwoman next season,” Rose said.
“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. I am beyond appreciative to Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter [Berlanti’s producing partner] and Caroline Dries for not only giving me this incredible opportunity, but for welcoming me into the DC universe they have so beautifully created.
“Thank you Peter Roth and Mark Pedowitz and the teams at Warner Bros. and The CW who put so much into the show and always believed in me. Thank you to everyone who made season one a success — I am truly grateful.”
A statement from the producers said the show will return in 2021, and reiterated a commitment to casting an LGBTQ actor.
“Warner Bros. Television, The CW and Berlanti Productions thank Ruby for her contributions to the success of our first season and wish her all the best. The studio and network are firmly committed to Batwoman’s second season and long-term future, and we — along with the show’s talented creative team — look forward to sharing its new direction, including the casting of a new lead actress and member of the LGBTQ community, in the coming months.”
Related: Caroline Dries on taking on a trailblazing heroine and fighting toxic fandom with ‘Batwoman’
The first series of Batwoman, which debuted October 2019, was due to have 22 episodes but this was shortened to 20 because of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to last week’s episode being the series finale.
JayneEyre
Wow, I have no idea how the producers can handle this, short of just recasting the role. Changing the character to another person won’t work with all that they’ve developed, not without totally changing the entire storage. I’m sorry to hear of Ruby Rose leaving the program, but her departure is going to wreak havoc.
jayceecook
They’re looking for another lesbian to recast the role.
Bromancer7
Nah, it’ll be fine. They will simply find a new bi or lesbian actress for the same role and continue as if nothing changed. As long as the new actress is a good fit, after a few episodes no one will even think twice about it.
Crystix
Mid season the Crisis of Infinite Earth LITERALLY rewrote the entire world. Substituting a new actress will be as easy as referencing the crisis or similar comic retcon trope.
If Rose was having serious doubts, its a lot easier and forgiveable to recast after one season (and during all the filming drama of the pandemic) than to continue another year or two, decide to leave, and inevitably take the whole show down with her.
djmcgamester
They can recast. I don’t remember it happening anytime recently, but I wouldn’t be the first time. I think soap operas may also do that.
EdWoody
Stephanie Beatriz (B99’s Rosa Diaz) is already angling for the job, to which I say F YEAH.
Cam
My only problem with that is I would HATE for B99 to loser Rosa!
Cam
Wow, giving up a lead on a series?? I wonder if she’s gotten some great movie offers, or something , otherwise it’s a surprising career move.
Mattster
She hasn’t given reasons but I have to think the on-set accident that nearly paralyzed her played a major role in the decision. The fame and $ from CW would not do her much good if her career were ended by injury.
Charlie in Charge
An excellent point
jw8890
Its actually been revealed she couldnt handle the hours.
jayceecook
She should never had been cast in the first place. Aside from the problematic casting requirement Ruby just isn’t a good actress. Not that all models who transition to acting are less than stellar performers but very few can lead a show. Especially a physically and mentally demanding one.
A lot of people are saying it’s because of the injury she sustained while filming. I’m not buying that. At least not as the sole reason. If it were, I truly believe she would have cited that as her reason and people would be more sympathetic and understanding. Deadline claims they spoke to some people who worked on the show, who remained anonymous, and apparently it has nothing to do with the onset accident. They say Ruby didn’t know what she was signing up for when she took the role. All the demands it would take and the sacrifices she’d have to make including relocating to Vancouver for most of the year. I guess Ruby likes to live a more transient life. Which is very plausible as many actors have quit shows for similar reasons. It’s happened to other CW shows. Just never the lead. There are some rumors that she was fired but I dunno if I buy that. Even if they were unhappy with her I can’t imagine TPTB would take such a drastic move during these uncertain times. Though maybe they did. Stranger things happen.
Bromancer7
When things like this happens it usually comes down to disillusion of the rigors of being the lead in a TV show (it’s hard work y’all!) or behind-the-scenes drama. I’m sure in the coming days we’ll learn more about which of these two applies here. Or if it’s something else entirely.
jayceecook
@Bromancer7 I’d add money as a 3rd probability. Maybe not in this case though RR does have a history of that.
If what I’m reading on some sites turns out to be legit it looks they both sides were unhappy and agreed that her stepping away was the best thing. Now why each side was allegedly unhappy we’ll probably never know for sure. At least not for a long time.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
I DVR’d several episodes of Batwoman and was not impressed with her acting. I am not surprised the producers came to the same conclusion I did that maybe it was a mistake to cast Batwoman as a lesbian.
jayceecook
They didn’t cast her as a lesbian. The character IS a lesbian in the comic books. She’s Batman’s Jewish lesbian cousin. To change any of that for the show would have backfired immensely. And it would have been justified.
I think one problem was they shouldn’t have forced themselves to cast an out lesbian for the role. It was nothing more than pandering. The other is they chose an out lesbian who isn’t a good actress.
Crystix
I love when our community attack LGBT actors playing LBGT roles, stating they’re not great and “I was not impressed.” One of the reasons we’re asking Hollywood to cast LGBT characters with LGBT people is to give them the spotlight and EXPERIENCE they deserve in representing out community.
Was Rose’s acting stellar? No. Could someone with more experience (read straight) do better, maybe. But I still supported her 100%. Acting is a skill and a lot of these CW shows take a couple seasons to find their legs and where they’re going. I was willing to give Rose all the chances to improve and make this her moment.
Whats sad is the blowpack and hatred she’s gotten from the geek and gay community. I can see why it wasn”t worth pouring the next two years of her life. She prolly talked to the producers, they discussed options, and decided that at this moment they could get away with a recast.
I commend Ruby, I commend the Greg Berlanti and the showrunners. I’m happy the show is continuing, Ruby get to be happy, and I get a brand new Batwoman to geek out and obsess over. WINS ALL AROUND
Keebler ILF
I quit watching the show after several episodes because Batwoman kept letting the main villain (Alice) go free and continue murdering people. Batman sent many criminals to prison. Sure, they would find a way to escape and come back in a couple of weeks, but at least he didn’t keep letting them go free. Was her acting any better in John Wick 2 or Orange Is The New Black?
Cam
That is the same B.S. some shows or movies always do. They’ll kill the underlings, and then keep letting the main villain go so they can come back in the next episode and cause trouble. It’s a dumb plot device.
Black Pegasus
Ruby was okay but the show was crippled by SJWs in the writing room. They took a total shtt on the Batman character and REAL fans didn’t appreciate it at all… Just cancel the show and forget it ever happened.
Desiderata
She had less script in JW2 than Arnie had in T2 🙂
Cam
What a shock, the right wing troll account that always defends anti-LGBT bigots tries to use a TV show to attack people who oppose bigotry.
There isn’t an eye roll large enough.
nm4047
more surprised that the show has been renewed. Watch the 1st 6 episodes and found it to just be boring. Not exactly a role that will be hard to re-cast. On Ruby, she wants to be careful if she leaves a show without explanation, she’s going to find it difficult to find another show that will likely cast her in any roles.
Desiderata
Suspect she was fired. Joint Statement just said “Warner Bros Television, The CW and Berlanti productions thank Ruby for her contributions to the success of the first season and wish her all the best.”
With the ratings they got for the last few episodes, wouldn’t surprise me if the show is cancelled. Down from an opening 1.8M to under 800K for all of 2020, not sure how it got a green light for a second season.
It also sounds like Ruby was not coping with the long hours of filming which got to the point where a parting of ways was the only way forward.
Crystix
The show is the 2nd best in viewership on the CW 2019-2020 season. Only Flash had more viewers on the network.
Glad to see the trolls coming back out to attack the show once again. Its no wonder Ruby wanted to leave. There’s literally no pleasing ya’ll
Desiderata
@crystix – I wonder if you’d be willing to invest your own money in the second best rated CW show that lost 1M viewers over the first season? I’d be surprised if they could get a 1M opening S2 and then it’ll be quickly down from there, but with the CW renewing shows with sub 500K viewership makes me wonder how the CW is still in business.
Jon in Canada
She’s not what you would call top end talent. She’s pretty and she can move, but her acting is, to say the least, wooden. Sorry Ruby, but I have to call it as I see it and what I see is someone who is making her acting career solely on looks and not substance.
Desiderata
I would argue she’s got a career as much based on her gender identity as looks.
djmcgamester
I haven’t even been able to see it. I rarely watch TV while it’s on. Tried the CW app a while back with no success. Unless it’s on Netflix I’m not sure how I’ll see it.
jaimedance3
Thank God, I Stopped Watching After The 3rd Episode. I Just Couldn’t Make It Through Her Acting ~ She Is A Horrible Actress ~ No Clue How She Became A So Called Star & Me That’s Been Trying For Years Nobody Can Give A Break To & Find A True Talent & Hidden Gem.
ffmikey
I’m a gay man and have never watched the show. Saw the photo of her at the beginning of the article. She’s Drop Dead Gorgeous.
balehead
Not a very interesting actress plus she loathed working in Vancouver??….A very LGBT friendly town…
ParisHiltonsBadEye
Horrible actress There is a reason why they made her character a deaf/mute in John Wick 2
Manchester
I’m surprised she had a lead role actually. She just isn’t a very good actress and her only emotion is brooding or feigning disinterest (which might not actually be “acting”). She was terrible in Orange is the New Black, terrible in XXX, terrible in The Meg so I totally skipped this series.