Though this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego has yet to open its doors, The CW has already made a lot of heads turn earlier with the announcement that it is actively developing a solo Batwoman live-action series, with plans for it to debut her introduction in the annual Arrowverse crossover event.
The news speaks to the confidence The CW has in the potential of Kate Kane’s costumed vigilante. The introduction of the Bat-family, in any capacity, has been a long time coming in the Arrowverse, and the idea that we may soon see a series set in Gotham City is exciting, to say the least.
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However thrilling the news might be, it does beg an important question: What does the show mean for The CW’s current superhero lineup? Mark Pedowitz, the President of the network, has said the channel won't ever feature more than four DC shows at any given time. So does the arrival of Batwoman mean we're about to lose a series? Perhaps -- there are signs the dawn of a show featuring a Caped Crusader is the signal that Arrow is coming to an end.
Arrow is the series that began it all. In 2012, the superhero show launched to fanfare and critical acclaim, the success of the series ushering in an entire line-up of comic book-based TV shows, two of which spun directly out of Oliver Queen's orbit: The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. With Supergirl now part of the roster, the number of CW superhero series is already at four.
There is also Black Lightning to consider, but that series, like Legends, is a shorter, mid-season affair, and it isn't technically a part of the Arrowverse (yet). Plus, the scheduling last season ensured that there were only four superhero shows airing at any given week. However, Batwoman will be firmly entrenched in the world Arrow built, as she's set to debut in this year's highly-anticipated crossover, before spearheading her solo show, and adding yet another show to The CW's schedule would upset the already precarious "four shows max" rule.
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If Pedowitz holds true to his word, then that could mean that one of the veteran series is on its way out. The Flash is starting its fifth season as the Arrowverse's highest rated series, while Legend of Tomorrow is returning for Season 4. As for Arrow, the Stephen Amell-led series is embarking on an impressive seventh season.
However, the series doesn't have the following or steam it once did. Its viewership is on the decline, and many fans would agree that the series is past its prime. Even Amell, the star of series, has stated that he would like this coming season to be written like it is the last, in the hopes that the show leaves nothing on the table. It already kind of felt like Season 7 would be Arrow's last, and the arrival of Batwoman isn't exactly helping its chances.
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After all, both Batwoman and the Green Arrow have similar tactics and skill sets. Does The CW really need to have two vigilante crime-fighters starring in their respective television series at the same time? For Batwoman to shine brightest, she should stand apart from the rest of the CW superheroes, and that could result in Arrow becoming the sacrificial lamb. On top of that, making a fifth (OK, sixth) DC series would stretch the budget of the network. If Arrow closes out with shortened final season, then that's more money that the network can put into making Batwoman's freshman season the big deal that it should be.
It's not necessarily that we want Arrow to end, it's just that the arrival of Batwoman might be the perfect time to let the CW's original superhero show go in order to re-energize the Arrowverse brand completely. This doesn't mean that we wouldn't get to see the Green Arrow, Black Canary and Mister Terrific on television anymore. The beauty of the Arrowverse is that characters cross over all the time. The cast of Arrow could still make appearances on other series, keeping the wide scope of the universe alive.
RELATED: Stephen Amell Teases Arrow’s Epic Season 7 Premiere Action Scene
The Batwoman series is an unprecedented move for the CW in a lot of ways. It will be the first superhero show to star a gay character as its lead, and will be the first to feature an actual, established member of the Bat-family. For it to succeed, it needs the full attention of its network, and it needs room to breathe. Sadly, that may just mean that Arrow, the series that started it all, will have to make the ultimate sacrifice so that The CW's next big superhero series may thrive.
Batwoman will be introduced in the next Arrowverse crossover, which will once again bring characters from Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl on the screen together for one big comic book-inspired adventure. The television event is expected to air late in December.