Batwoman's debut season brought Gotham City and the titular heroine into the Arrowverse. The first season was filled with twists and turns, but perhaps the biggest was behind-the-scenes drama caused by lead actor Ruby Rose's departure.
Though we know very little about what things will look like for Batwoman moving forward, here's everything we know about Season 2 so far.
The Story So Far
Batwoman Season 1 ended on a surprisingly low note for the titular character. After forging a partnership with her father Jacob and the Crows, Kate Kane was betrayed and forced to flee. Jacob used this opportunity to reaffirm his desire to take down Batwoman, putting father and daughter in opposition. Meanwhile, Alice kills her closest companion Mouse after he threatens to leave Gotham. But she's not alone for long, and gives Hush a brand-new face to make him look like the absentee Bruce Wayne.
An official synopsis for Season 2 reads: "Season two kicks off with a major game-changer that will alter Gotham and The Bat Team forever. As the dust settles, Batwoman has everything working against her – including the recently escaped rogues' gallery of villains – and everyone will come to see her in a whole new light. Alice meets her match when she becomes entangled with a dangerous foe from her past who knows exactly how to prey on her vulnerabilities. As Luke (Camrus Johnson) and Mary (Nicole Kang) find their footing as sidekicks, a romance will shake up their dynamic. Meanwhile, Sophie (Meagan Tandy) and Julia's (guest star Christina Wolfe) budding relationship will face its first real test and make Sophie question everything she thought she knew to be true."
One big event already planned for Season 2 is a two-hour crossover with Superman & Lois, the newest show in the Arrowverse. Despite Ryan being new to the universe, the event will assumingly tug on character connections that began during last year's "Crisis on Infinite Earths."
Filming
Batwoman's filming was put on hold in March with Warner Bros. Television shutting down production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Season 1 was initially slotted to have 22 episodes, but the halt on production ended the season at Episode 20. The series had one day left of shooting on what would become the finale when things shut down. It's unknown as to whether what was intended to be Episodes 21 and 22 will be used for Season 2.
Batwoman officially began filming season 2 on September 3 in Vancouver. Several cast members, including Nicole Kang and Camrus Johnson, let the fans know production began via social media. Filming is expected to conclude on May 10, 2021.
Cast and Crew
Ruby Rose, who played Kate Kane in Batwoman Season 1, shocked fans when she announced in May that she would not be returning for Season 2. It was said that her departure was a mutual decision between Rose, the studio and the network. Rose then made subsequent statements in the coming months, revealing that her choice to leave came from several different places, including an injury she got on set that required surgery and the past few months of quarantine giving her second thoughts about taking on the cowl. Showrunner Caroline Dries followed up the announcement by promising that Kate Kane would not be killed off, and her disappearance would instead become a key Season 2 storyline.
Following Rose's announcement, months of speculation followed, with a number of actresses being rumored to take over as the new Batwoman lead. In July, Javicia Leslie (God Friended Me) was officially cast as Ryan Wilder, the next Scarlet Knight. The casting notice for Ryan is as follows: "With no one in her life to keep her on track, Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits. Today Ryan lives in her van with her plant. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat and could also kill you with her bare hands, Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. An out lesbian. Athletic. Raw. Passionate. Fallible. And very much not your stereotypical all-American hero."
It is assumed that returning from Season 1 in at least some capacity will be series regulars Rachel Skarsten (Alice), Meagan Tandy (Sophie Moore), Nicole Kang (Mary Hamilton), Camrus Johnson (Luke Fox), and Dougray Scott (Jacob Kane). Given the cliffhanger ending of last season, Warren Christie should also make an appearance as Tommy Elliot/Hush, now disguised Bruce Wayne.
Ryan Wilder will face brand-new villains in the new season. Shivani Ghai will play Safiyah Sohail, a tech mogul who was a previous lover of Kate Kane in the comics. Showrunner Caroline Dries also revealed that crime lord Black Mask will also appear in Season 2.
Release Date
Batwoman's second season is scheduled to premiere on January 17, 2021. It is unknown how many episodes the season will run.
Batwoman stars Javicia Leslie, Rachel Skarsten, Meagan Tandy, Camrus Johnson, Dougray Scott and Nicole Kang. Season 2 premieres on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.