Australian actor Ruby Rose will play Batwoman, it was announced this morning.
The news has already divided fans, many of whom hoped the openly lesbian and Jewish character would provide the perfect opportunity for an unexpected and diverse casting choice.
Batwoman is set to debut in The CW network's other superhero TV franchises this year, with guest spots on Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl, with a stand-alone series also in development.
Rose, who identifies as gender fluid, confirmed the role: “The Bat is out of the bag and I am beyond thrilled and honoured," the star wrote on social media.
“This is something I would have died to have seen on TV when I was a young member of the LGBT community who never felt represented on TV and felt alone and different.
“Thank you everyone. Thank you god.”
The standalone Batwoman series is expected to follow Kate Kane, a Jewish lesbian who, according to an early press release, is “armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind.”
According to CW: “[Kate] 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 saviour, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.”
Rose rose to fame in the United States following a role in Netflix series Orange Is The New Black and will soon star in shark-horror film The Meg.
