The CW has announced the first cast members for its "dead Batman" series Gotham Knights -- and one of them is playing Bat-sidekick Harper Row.
Actor Fallon Smythe will play Harper, also known by her crimefighting alter-ego Bluebird, in the upcoming Gotham Knights pilot, according to Variety. The report describes the Gotham Knights version of the character as "streetwise, acerbic and often underestimated," adding that "[this] blue-haired bisexual is a gifted engineer who can fix anything." It also reveals that Harper's deepest desire is "to repair the broken lives of her and her brother, Cullen, the only person she trusts."
As Harper's Gotham Knights bio suggests, her brother Cullen will also make the jump from the comics to the small screen, portrayed by Tyler DiChiara. The CW's description of Cullen reads, "After years of hiding his true self from an abusive parent, the transgender teen is tired of being polite and agreeable. Clever and adept at reading human nature, Cullen is ready to fight his own battles."
The news of Harper and Cullen Row's casting arrives on the heels of a recent report claiming other members of the so-called "Bat-family" will appear in Gotham Knights, too. Both Dick Grayson/Nightwing and Stephanie Brown/Spoiler are said to feature, with the same report speculating that Duela Dent/The Joker's Daughter will be one of the show's antagonists, as well. That said, The CW has yet to confirm that Nightwing, Spoiler or The Joker's Daughter are part of the Gotham Knights roster.
Gotham Knights' pilot was given the green light in early February 2022. The official CW synopsis of the series at the time stated that the show follows "[Batman's] rebellious adopted son [who] forges an unlikely alliance with the children of Batman’s enemies when they are all framed for killing the Caped Crusader." Later that month, The CW unveiled the Gotham Knights logo, which also confirmed that principal photography on the show would kick off in April.
While Gotham Knights shares its name and basic premise with WB Games Montréal and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment's upcoming action role-playing video game, the two projects are unrelated. The hotly anticipated game -- which also sees Batman's young allies unite following his death -- was originally slated for release in 2021 before being postponed to Q3 2022. Similarly, while Gotham Knights was created by Batwoman writers Natalie Abrams, James Stoteraux and Chad Fiveash, the show has no direct ties to that series, either.
Gotham Knights will premiere on The CW. A release date has yet to be announced.
Source: Variety