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Ruby Rose in surprise exit as Batwoman

"This was not a decision I made lightly," says Aussie Ruby Rose.

Aussie Ruby Rose has departed the lead role as Batwoman after a single season, with the character now to be recast.

The announcement comes just two days after the show’s season finale.

Rose was critically received in the role as a lesbian superhero, but the move by producer Greg Berlanti, did attract some criticism on social media.

“I have made the very difficult decision to not return to Batwoman next season,” said Rose. “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 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.”

The CW, Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions said jointly, “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.”

Batwoman was forced to end its season early due to the coronavirus pandemic at 20 of a planned 22 episodes. It was renewed for a second season in January.

It screens in Australia on FOX8.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

10 Responses

  1. Agree with most here that something is up/fishy. It will be interesting to see how the producers & writers dig their way out of this.

    Also, the theory about CW community backlash is definitely incorrect… because if that was the case, Iris would have departed ‘Flash’ about 5 times over!

    1. Iris isn’t the main attraction though… so a bit of backlash is acceptable. However if it was Gustin who wasn’t well received… My point is… the show is called The Flash and the beloved, famous character has been served well by Grant Gustin.

  2. This is very fishy.
    There’s rumours circulating that she just hasn’t been embraced by the comic book/Berlanti/CW community. I remember she went off Instagram and Twitter because of the backlash about her casting. I hope this isn’t as sinister as it potentially could be.
    I only watched and stayed because of her on the show. She’s not the best actress ever, but she was a great Batwoman I thought. The show itself is average… I don’t like the majority of characters on it and the writing is awful. These comic book shows are starting to become too samey. Now I definitely won’t be back for S2.

    1. This is a CW show, it is formulaic by design so Mr.Berlanti can make extended seasons.
      I believe the answer is more simple and Ruby Rose didn’t want to get locked into a Steven Amell type super hero lasting for years, she did have other avenues beckoning for her talents at one time, she may want to renew them.

      1. That is possible as seeing filming is now halted to 2021 and the planned return airing of the show was early 2021 and is not happening, Ruby may have decided to pull the pin given she has two movies in Post Production now in Doorman and SAS: Red Notice.

        Either that or with all this down time Ruby has had more time to contemplate and seeing she had the stunt accident and as she said on Instagram in September: “To everyone asking about my new Pez dispenser scar on my neck. A couple of months ago I was told I needed an emergency surgery or I was risking becoming paralysed, I had herniated two discs doing stunts and they were close to severing my spinal chord.”

        So on reflection may have thought more about what could happen long term about her health and doing that demanding TV filming schedule.

  3. Wow, this is quite a bizarre development. Aren’t the leads in a US series usually tied to a five year contract? I don’t think she was bad in the role, and at least she was believably a lesbian, which is more than can be said for her screen partners. The criticisms should be aimed at the writing that had too much lesbianism on display for a superhero show, which was certainly not the actress fault.

    1. A standard contract for any regular cast member is development, pilot and then 5 years if the series gets picked up and keeps getting renewed. However if things are irrevocably broken, you can’t force someone to turn up and do a good job. The usual reason sited is failure to cope with the gruelling days on set and the media attention.

      They will usually let people out of contract when that happens, with a noncompete clause that stops them working in US TV for the period of the contract e.g. Sherry Stringfield left ER after S3, just when Susan’s planned relationship with Mark was supposed to get serious. Sasha Alexanda left NCIS after S2.

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