When Ruby Rose played Batwoman in last year’s Elseworlds, it was to serve as a backdoor pilot to her own show in the Arrowverse. Now that show is almost upon us, and so is the follow-up to Elseworlds. With the season premiere of Batwoman just around the corner, casting announcements have popped up left and right. A while ago, it was announced that Gabriel Mann will be playing the Batman villain, Hush. Kevin Conroy, who voiced Bruce Wayne in the 90s animated series, is set to reprise his role in live-action. Though, he’ll only be in Crisis On Infinite Earths as of yet. There’s no word if he’ll continue that role alongside Ruby Rose. Now, news personality, Rachel Maddow, will be playing a similar character from DC comics named Vesper Fairchild.
The Hollywood Reporter announced Maddow as Fairchild. But the MSNBC host also tweeted the news.
I know no one's going to believe this is true, but it's true.
I'm "Vesper Fairchild" in the new Batwoman TV show that starts this Sunday night on The CW.
(My character is soooo not me; turns out playing her is one of the most fun things I've ever done).https://t.co/LP8PauXvUL
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 4, 2019
In the report from THR, Batwoman showrunner, Caroline Dries described the character as “the sardonic Voice of Gotham.” Dries went on to explain why Maddow was chosen for the role.
“We thought she’d be the perfect casting choice because her own hard-hitting journalism wildly contrasts Vesper’s penchant for snark, gossip, and criticism of female superheroes.”
Fairchild was referenced in Elseworlds as one of Oliver Queen’s many exes. In the comics, however, she dated Bruce Wayne. She first appeared in Batman #540 from 1997. Since, she learned that Bruce and Batman were one. And she went on to serve as a J. Jonah Jameson-type character. Therefore, with the casting of Maddow, she’ll probably go on to be Batwoman’s Jameson.
It is said that Maddow’s Fairchild will not show her face on the show. So the other characters on the show will probably just hear her ramblings via radio, tv, or podcast. The character has never appeared in live-action yet. And with just her voice in this, she won’t be in live-action still.
Batwoman will air, Sunday, October 13th on The CW. The next day, you will be able to stream it on their app. And her episode of Crisis On Infinite Earths is set for Monday, December 9th. For further developments on Crisis, Batwoman, the Arrowverse, and everything else DC, stay tuned to Screen Geek.