Javicia Leslie is your new Batwoman

Gotham City has found a new caped crusader to protect it from villains. Javicia Leslie will don the cape and fight crime, taking on the role of Ryan Wilder and making history as the first Black actress to play Batwoman.The 33-year-old, who is openly bisexual, released a statement celebrating her addition to the cast. “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,” she said. The actress also shared the news on social media, changing her bio on Twitter to "Batwoman." On her Instagram page, Leslie left an inspirational message, writing “For all of the little black girls dreaming to be a superhero one day... it’s possible!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

For all of the little black girls dreaming to be a superhero one day... it’s possible!

A post shared by Javicia Leslie (@javicia) on Jul 8, 2020 at 3:55pm PDT

Ruby Rose surprised fans when she announced in May that she was leaving her starring role as Bruce Wayne’s cousin, Kate Kane, in the CW series. The Australian had made history with her role as Batwoman by becoming the first openly gay lead superhero. Following Rose’s exit, Batwoman showrunners Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Caroline Dries, along with the studio, released a statement thanking Rose for her work and promising that the gender fluid actor would be replaced with someone who was also a member of the LGBTQ+ community.[video_embed id='1966946']RELATED: Ruby Rose reflects on ‘Batwoman’ exit[/video_embed]Though Leslie is taking the lead, she's actually playing a new character who will take up the Batwoman mantle; a woman who is described as "likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed.” When Season 2 of Batwoman returns, viewers will be introduced to the unlikely superhero, who is a former drug runner that is now living alone in her van with a plant.  According to Variety, Wilder is "not your stereotypical American superhero," adding that Ryan is “…the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. She is an out lesbian, athletic, raw, passionate, fallible.”Batwoman writer Caroline Dries tweeted about showrunners decision to move forward with a new character instead of replacing Kane, noting that one of Wilder’s first assignments may be figuring out exactly what happened to her predecessor.

A note from me on behalf of The Bat Team... pic.twitter.com/V6iXjaCrA5

— Caroline Dries (@carolinedries) June 10, 2020

Fans of the dramedy God Friended Me may recognized Leslie from her role as Ali Finer, sister to Brandon Michael Hall’s lead character Miles Finer. Leslie also starred in the BET series The Family Business and in Yvette Nicole Brown’s 2019 film, Always A Bridesmaid.Rose was one of the first people to congratulate Leslie on social media, sharing a picture of the actress on her Instagram page. “This is amazing!! I am so glad Batwoman will be played by an amazing Black woman,” wrote Rose. “I want to congratulate Javicia Leslie on taking over the bat cape. You are walking into an amazing cast and crew.”[video_embed id='1985291']RELATED: Jax Irwin, Kiley May, Cheri DiNovo and Vong Show discuss what makes a good ally to the LGBTQ+ community[/video_embed]