Rachel Skarsten Cast as Lead Antagonist in The CW’s Batwoman

Rachel Skarsten Cast as Lead Antagonist in The CW's Batwoman

Rachel Skarsten cast as lead antagonist in The CW’s Batwoman

According to Deadline, Rachel Skarsten has signed on for a lead role in The CW’s forthcoming superhero series Batwoman. Skarsten is set to portray the leader of the Wonderland Gang named Alice a.k.a Red Alice, who will be the show’s major villain. Alice is best described as the Joker equivalent to Batwoman.

In the comics, Alice’s real name is Elizabeth Kane, the identical twin sister of Kate Kane/Batwoman. She is a high-ranking member of the Religion of Crime. She is both maniacal and charming and has made it her mission to undermine Gotham’s sense of security.

Skarsten is no stranger to the DC universe as she first appeared in The CW’s 2002 series Birds of Prey as one of the main characters Dinah Lance. Her other TV credits include the historical drama Reign as Elizabeth of England, the SYFY series Wynonna Earp as Eliza Shapiro, and in the dark comedy Imposters as Poppy Langmore.

The series stars Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman, Meagan Tandy (Teen Wolf) as Sophie Moore, Camrus Johnson (Luke Cage) as Luke Fox and Nicole Kang (You) as Mary Hamilton.

Batwoman marks the first gay lead character — male or female — of a live-action superhero series. It centers on Kate Kane (Rose) who soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.

The network ordered a development for the series last summer with Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries) penning the pilot, while she, Sarah Schecter (Riverdale), Geoff Johns (Aquaman) and Greg Berlanti (The Flash) will executive produce the project. Director David Nutter will also executive produce the pilot from Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.