Could Kate Kane fly over Gotham once more in Batwoman?
It has been nearly a year since Ruby Rose shocked fans by announcing she was leaving The CW’s Batwoman’s title role after only one season. This pushed the show’s producers to create an entirely new title character to restructure the show.
Yet the actress has given hints she might be willing to return to Kate Kane’s role but only under the right circumstances.
Ruby Rose’s Batwoman exit
The casting of Ruby Rose as Batwoman was a major announcement for the Arrowverse. With her popularity as an actress and LGBT advocate, Rose seemed a perfect fit for the proudly out Kate Kane and her costumed alter ego.
Rose suffered a neck injury from a stunt gone wrong but continued as Kate, battling her evil sister Alice (Rachel Skartsten), wrestling with feelings for former girlfriend Sophie (Megan Tandy), and dealing with a complex relationship with her father, Jacob (Dougray Scott).
Like other CW shows, Batwoman had its first season cut short by the pandemic shutdowns. It ended with Kate rocked, first by the betrayal of a lover and then Jacob trying to kill Batwoman, unaware she was his daughter.
In May of 2020, Rose shocked fans by announcing she was leaving the series, citing exhaustion from the long shoots with rumors of her being difficult on set.
New Batwoman
At first, it sounded like the producers would recast Kate with some wild comic-book explanation for her new appearance.
Instead, the second season opened with Kate’s plane exploding and homeless ex-veteran Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie) finding her Batsuit in the wreckage.
Taking up the mantle, Ryan has been working with Kate’s allies Luke Fox and Mary as a new Batwoman.
Alice was met by villainess Safiyah Sohail (Shivani Ghai), who claimed Kate was alive and being held a prisoner. Now, Jacob and Sophie (both now knowing Kate’s true identity) are in a race to find Kate before Alice can kill her.
This turn appeared to be the producers leaving a back door in case Rose ever decided to return to the show, which may actually happen.
Door open for Batwoman return
In an interview with ComicBookMovie.com to promote her new SAS: Red Notice film, Rose talked about the possibility of returning to Batwoman.
“I mean, I’m obviously moving on to other roles as I think I’ve done about three films since. I would totally do it. I don’t think it would serve the story because I think building the new Batwoman is more important than going back too far into Kate Kane, but of course, I would, I would absolutely do anything they wanted as far as that.
I haven’t watched the whole thing, but I’ve watched a couple of episodes, and I think how they’re handling it is beautiful. I think it’s her time to shine. There was something very special about playing Batwoman and Kate Kane, and introducing her to the world, helping inspire a bunch of kids which is Javicia [Leslie] is doing right now.
It’s such a beautiful thing to be able to watch.”
Rose’s words indicate she may be open to a return, yet only if it could be more than simply a cameo. The possibility of Kate and Ryan fighting for who gets the cowl would be exciting for fans.
Simultaneously, Rose doesn’t want it simply to be a random cameo and speaks warmly of Leslie making the part her own. It also seems unlikely the producers would suddenly decide to shift up their leading star yet again.
For now, Rose is busy with her latest action films SAS and Vanquish. But if the writers had the right storyline, then Rose’s return to Batwoman may not be as impossible as some fans first thought.
Batwoman airs Sundays on the CW.