Batwoman reportedly going with entirely new lead character for season 2

In yet another twist to the story of Ruby Rose’s abrupt exit from the show, Batwoman’s second season may feature a completely different lead character.

Fans are still reeling from the news of Ruby Rose’s abrupt exit from Batwoman, but the idea of getting used to a new Kate Kane may not actually be the most shocking development in Gotham City once season 2 finally arrives. There may be an entirely new hero wearing the batsuit, when all is said and done.

According to Decider, the show may be considering not recasting Kate, as such, but rather going with a completely different character altogether to lead the show. Per these reports, a leaked casting call on  the social media platform reddit, described this new role as “Ryan Wilder.”

It’s not clear yet if Ryan Wilder will actually turn out to be the name of an actual Batwoman character or just a placeholder. The character breakdown describes a woman in her “mid-20s, who is likable, messy, a little goofy, and untamed. An out lesbian. Athletic. Raw. Passionate. Fallible. And very much not your stereotypical All-American hero.”

Since the majority of those personality traits are generally nothing like Ruby Rose’s Kate Kane, this may indicate that Batwoman’s showrunners are looking to go in an entirely new direction for season 2.

The news, understandably, has met with both surprise and mixed reviews from fans. On one hand, you have a network that is all of a sudden without their main star, struggling to find a replacement. On the other, if this is true, the switch will unravel a majority of the storylines and relationships that built up over the course of the show’s first season.

After all, Rose was cast as Batwoman almost a full year before the series even started, making her debut in the 2018 Arrowverse crossover Elseworlds. Audiences loved the character so much that The CW gave her a show of her own. Also worth noting, is the fact that Rose and Supergirl star Melissa Benoist had great chemistry together as Batwoman and the Girl of Steel, and it’s something that left fans clamoring for more interaction between them.

In the comic books, the Kate Kane version of Batwoman is a relatively new character, debuting in 2006 as one of the first lesbian superheroes in mainstream DC comics continuity. Although Kate isn’t the only character to wear the mantle of Batwoman, she is the only version that Arrowverse fans know. Personally, we’re holding off until a casting choice is made.

Do you think this rumored switch is a good way to handle season 2 of Batwoman? Let us know in the comments section below.