The upcoming recast of Batwoman on The CW is not unfamiliar territory for the Arrowverse as this would mark the second time a leading lady in the franchise needed to be replaced. Those who are familiar with the history of the Arrowverse will remember that Sara Lance of Arrow was played by an entirely different actress in the series pilot before being replaced by Caity Lotz.
Ruby Rose donned her cape for the debut season of Batwoman before her unhappiness with the show led her to part ways with playing Kate Kane. The unexpected announcement of her departure now forces the CW to recast the title role for subsequent seasons. Luckily, the network has a good track record when it comes to successfully recasting a major role.
Sara Lance is now a staple character in the Arrowverse as she majorly impacted Oliver Queen's life in Starling City before becoming a key player in DC's Legends of Tomorrow. In Season 1, Episode 1 of Arrow, the character of Sara Lance -- played by Canadian actress Jacqueline MacInnes Wood -- was presumed dead and only appeared in pre-shipwreck flashbacks. At the time of its first season, Laurel Lance, Sara's sister and Oliver's ex-girlfriend/friend, was the primary female counterpart to Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. Therefore, it was likely that the showrunners had initially only planned to have Sara appear in the form of flashback sequences via a limited number of pre-filmed scenes.
However, by the time the Sara Lance character development was expanded beyond its original conception, Wood's commitments as a regular on The Bold and the Beautiful meant that it would have been near impossible to fit a recurring role on Arrow into her schedule. Lotz was subsequently brought in to fill the character just in time for Sara Lance to make appears in almost every episode of the show's second season. Since her casting in the role, Lotz's depiction of Sara Lance/Black Canary/White Canary has been met with praise from Arrowverse fans, specifically citing her acting range and natural athleticism that made her a perfect fit as the superhero.
Recasting history is set to repeat itself for producers at The CW as Ruby Rose will be officially absent from the upcoming second season of Batwoman. Rose's case is in contrast with that of Wood's as her unwillingness to reprise the role did not come as a result of a busy schedule but instead, a general feeling of unhappiness with working on the show. Reports have stated that Rose made the tough call to depart from her leading role due to a number of reasons that added up to a poor relationship with the show. These reasons included difficulty with adjusting to the long hours and overwhelming schedule required of series leads as well as trouble with adjusting to life in Vancouver, Canada, where all Arrowverse shows are filmed. Rose's decision not only reflects a necessary choice for the sake of bettering her personal mental health but also a positive choice for the DC series as a leading actor that's happy to be on set would make a better work environment for the entire production.
While the situation with recasting Batwoman is clearly under different circumstances compared to that of Arrow's Sara Lance, the positive fan feedback from Lotz's casting proves that a recast lead may not be a bad thing. A recast series lead can dramatically lead to the improvement of the series itself. A character's depth is also more likely to increase when a new actor who truly enjoys playing the role takes the helm. The quick and successful casting of Caity Lotz suggests a promising replacement for Ruby Rose will be found in time for Batwoman's Season 2 return in January 2021.