Culture

Ruby Rose to play lesbian superhero Batwoman

Aug 07 2018
Written by Nick Duffy

Ruby Rose (LISA O’CONNOR/AFP/Getty)

Ruby Rose has been tapped to play the out superhero Batwoman.

The former Orange is the New Black star has been cast as the lesbian superhero icon, who is set to debut in The CW’s superhero TV universe this year with appearances on Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl.

A standalone Batwoman TV show is also currently in development at the CW, though a premiere date has not been set.

(DC Comics)

It will follow Kate Kane, a Jewish lesbian who, according to the network, is “armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind.”

In the new series, “[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.”

Ruby Rose, who identifies as gender fluid in real life, confirmed: “The Bat is out of the bag and I am beyond thrilled and honoured. I’m also an emotional wreck because this is a childhood dream.

“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.”

Ruby Rose (Jamie McCarthy/Getty)

The version of Batwoman headed to TV screens is set to remain true to her comics portrayal, where Batwoman has been an out lesbian since 2006.

Prolific producer Greg Berlanti – who has overseen numerous CW shows, as well as hit film Love, Simon – will executive produce the new show.

Ruby Rose (Emma McIntyre/Getty)

The CW superhero universe is growing significantly, with trans actress Nicole Maines set to play TV’s first transgender superhero on CW show Supergirl.

Animated series The Ray also featured a gay lead.

The diversity within the CW universe stands in stark contrast with the total lack of LGBT characters in blockbuster superhero films.

Ruby Rose got a lot of attention when she debuted on the third season of Netflix prison drama Orange is the New Black, serving as a “lust object” for main character Piper.

The actress previously released a music video exploring her perception of non-traditional gender identities.

The star wrote and produced a 5 minute video set to Butterfly Boucher’s ‘It Pulls Me Under’, where Rose transitions from female-presenting to male-presenting.

She said at the time: “It’s weird, some of the androgynous photos I have taken lately really make me wonder what I’d have looked like if I did a FTM transition like I wanted to when I was younger.

“I am a woman, but I would have been just as comfortable as a boy.

“I know a lot of people don’t understand that, but I know a few of you do.”