The new super hero in town in an HBCU graduate. On Wednesday, Warner Bros. TV announced that they’ve found the new lead for “Batwoman”, Hampton University alumna Javicia Leslie. Leslie becomes the first Black actor to portray Batwoman in a scripted live-action TV series or film. Leslie landed on the HBCU Top 30 Under 30 in 2016
“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.
Say hello to the new Batwoman! @CWBatwoman pic.twitter.com/7F8Wfshs6X
— Warner Bros. TV (@warnerbrostv) July 8, 2020
Heres a breakdown of her new role from Variety:
Leslie will portray a new character on the show named Ryan Wilder. She is described as likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed. She’s also nothing like Kate Kane (previously played by Ruby Rose), the woman who wore the Batsuit before her. With no one in her life to keep her on track, Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits. Today Ryan lives in her van with her plant. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat and could also kill you with her bare hands, Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. She is an out lesbian, athletic, raw, passionate, fallible, and very much not your stereotypical All-American hero.
Back May Ruby Rose, 34-year-old actress stepped down from the role and confirmed via a statement obtained by Fox News that she had exited the show. Rose expressed her praises in an Instagram post: “OMG!! This is amazing!! I am so glad Batwoman will be played by an amazing Black woman. I want to congratulate Javicia Leslie on taking over the bat cape. You are walking into an amazing cast and crew. I can’t wait to watch season 2 you are going to be amazing!!”
