SDCC 2019: 'Batwoman' executive producers discuss Ruby Rose's storyline as the masked vigilante and the origin of Hush
The 'Batwoman' pilot episode was screened on the preview night of the San Diego Comic-Con 2019, and the new knight has left the audience impressed. The panel that followed on Saturday (July 20) saw executive producers, Caroline Dries, and Sarah Schechter take the stage and talk in-depth about the upcoming superhero series.
Of the many points that were talked upon, the topic of 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' was delved on in detail and Dries teased that the crossover episode will see the relationship between Kate Kane/Batwoman (Ruby Rose) and Kara Danvers/Supergirl (Melissa Benoist). "We're trying to find a different angle into these characters," she said.
Dries also added that there are a slew of new characters who would participate in the five-part event. She also confirmed that actor Burt Ward will make an appearance in 'Crisis on Infinite Earths'. "We're introducing the character of Tommy Elliot, who becomes the villain Hush," Dries revealed. " The show will explore his origin before he dons the iconic wraps."
The executive producer went on to explain that season 1 would be about Kate and her sister, Alice (Rachel Skarsten). "Season 1 will be "this epic idea of Alice being Kate's sister. Kate's journey through Season 1 will be trying to redeem the humanity inside this monster. Let's just make this what our show is about: it's about Kate and her sister."
Talking about the plot and the twists, Dries felt that the show was pretty "fast-paced." Schechter added that there was a lot of narrative experimentation and tonal shifts. "The twists keep coming," Dries remarked. The EPs also confirmed that 'Batwoman' will stick with the flashback motif and jump around the timeline. We're going to be all over the place. So much of Kate worthy of putting on the Bat-suit in the pilot is all these years of trauma," Dries said.
One of the pleasing subplots was introducing Kate as a gay character. Dries explained that it was just one of Kate's traits. "We're not going to make it that huge in the story apart from the fact that when she falls in love, it's with a woman."
The series will also see new villains and that the baddies from the Arrowverse would not be repeated. "We're using a whole new chapter of villains and heroes," she explained.
The trailer saw Kate try and get out of Bruce Wayne's (Batman) shadow and Schechter said that the iconic superhero continues to be a big part of the conversation. "She sees him as a mentor. I thought it'd be cool if one day she opens her journal and she sees a letter from him and is wondering how that got there," Dries teased.
The character of Kate was broken down during the panel as well. Dries weighed in on how Rose influenced the character. "We made Kate a vegan because Ruby's a vegan," she shared. "We wanted to use as many of her tattoos as possible."
"She does a lot of her own fights, the fighting, and the kicking," she added. "With Ruby, she's able to just kind of learn on the fly. She's actually getting thrown against the wall and punched in the face."
Rose, however, missed the panel as she was tied up due to shooting demands on the series. "We shoot six out of seven days a week, her schedule is really, really tight," Dries said. The actor took to Instagram to post that she would not be able to make it to the convention.
Written by Dries and developed by Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Batwoman stars Rose, Skarsten, Meagan Tandy, Camrus Johnson, Dougray Scott, Elizabeth Anweis and Nicole Kang. The series will premiere on Sunday, October 6 and air on Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT.
