The CW’s Arrowverse could be getting another hero on a regular basis.
The network has given an order for a pilot for Batwoman, starring Ruby Rose as the titular hero. Rose debuted the character during last month’s Arrowverse crossover event “Elseworlds,” which saw three of CW’s other DC Comics-based shows – The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl – crossover for a story that in part brough the heroes to Gotham City for their first meet-up with this particular member of the Batman family.
The Vampire Diaries writer Caroline Dries is set to script with Arrowverse producer Greg Berlanti executive producing. David Nutter, who helmed both the pilots for Arrow and The Flash, is set to direct this pilot as well.
According to the CW –
Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane [Rose] 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. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.
The CW was excited about the possibility of a Batwoman show when Berlanti first brought it to the studio last summer, and July started development of the pilot script. Presumably, the network was happy with the what Dries has turned in and with fan feedback from Rose’s appearance in the “Elseworlds” event. Although the network already has four hours of programming that make up the interconnected Arrowverse shows – DC’S Legends Of Tomorrow didn’t take place in last year’s annual crossover event – it could be possibly looking at replacing one rather than add a fifth hour. Arrow is already in its seventh season, but it’s ratings are still pretty strong when compared to all the other CW shows. Although this year is a bit stronger in terms of storyelling than the last few, it is possible that the network is looking to perhaps wind up the story of Oliver Queen and his fellow Star City heroes. (It could also depend if the Arrow cast has been signed to seven or ten year contracts. If it is for seven years, the network might not want to renegotiate terms, hoping to save money by going with a brand new show like Batwoman instead.) Legends Of Tomorrow is the network’s lowest rated of the four shows, so it could also be looking at the possibility of cancellation. Legends also has a short order of just 16 episodes for its season, so it is possible that the CW could be viewing Batwoman as a similarly shorter season to fill in on the schedule after Legends finishes its run.
Of course, this is just speculation. The CW could decide not to pick up the pilot at all. We’re still deep in the current TV season and several month’s away from network’s announcing their Fall 2019 schedules. A lot can happen in that time.
