The Bat Has Left the Building: Batwoman Canceled by CW

The Arrowverse as we know it is on its last legs. Arrow, the show that started it all, ended in 2020; Black Lightning was only brought into the universe after the show ended at 2 seasons; and Supergirl ended earlier this year after six seasons. Batwoman is officially over (without a final season, as the CW has been doing lately) and there are rumors that The Flash, which was renewed, will be a final, shortened season.

Batwoman had to contend with a major shakeup when series star Ruby Rose left after its first season. Rose had suffered a neck injury on set that required emergency surgery less than a year prior to announcing her departure. The surgery was needed after she herniated two discs while doing stunts on set and risked a severed spinal cord and paralysis without the surgery. Later, she cited harassment and unsafe working conditions as her reasons for leaving.

The first season featured Rose as Kate Kane aka Batwoman. Virtually every other major character in the cast had a familial or personal connection to her—her father Jacob Kane ran the private security firm the Crows that was trying to arrest Batwoman, her half-sister Mary Hamilton ran an illegal medical clinic and eventually became part of Batwoman’s support team, her ex-friend Sophie Moore was part of the Crows, the show’s major villain is her long-lost twin sister Beth (who now goes by Alice), Wayne Enterprise employee Lucas Fox serves as her tech-support, and Batman (who is mysteriously missing) is Kate’s cousin.

With Rose’s departure, the show was forced to reconsider all of its major relationships and dynamics, both within the show and with the other Arrowverse shows. It was a particular shame after the major crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths had set up a great rapport between Batwoman and Supergirl. Javicia Leslie was cast as the new Batwoman with a new character, Ryan Wilder. Supergirl ending last year meant Kara Danvers and Ryan would never be able to develop a new friendship onscreen.

Batwoman lasted 3 seasons.

Photo: Batwoman played by Javicia Leslie. Courtesy CW.