Batwoman season 2 UK release date: Latest news as DC Comics drama returns to E4

However, Batwoman has landed on its feet with Javicia Leslie taking on the all-new role of Ryan Wilder, a Gotham resident who stumbles upon the Batsuit and chooses to become the city's latest defender.

She'll have her work cut out for her with no less than three major villains to contend with, including the mysterious Safiyah (referenced in season one), gang leader Black Mask and, of course, the utterly unhinged Alice (Rachel Skarsten).

Fans can expect the character of Kate Kane to be absent from the show's early episodes, but it has recently been revealed that she will return to the story – now played by Krypton star Wallis Day.

You can find out more on these latest developments below as well as everything you need to know about the new season of Batwoman.

Batwoman season 2 UK release date

CONFIRMED: Batwoman season two will premiere on E4 on Sunday 18th April at 8pm.

It's been a long wait for fans as the show's second run got underway in the United States a full four months earlier on Sunday 17th January, returning to DC Comics-dominated broadcaster The CW.

Batwoman's return had already been pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic, which prevented filming from getting started until October 2020 (via Deadline).

Batwoman season 2 cast

While the series had originally intended to continue the story of Kate Kane's crimefighting across Gotham City, the writers have decided to introduce an entirely new character following the resignation of Ruby Rose.

Javicia Leslie has been cast in the role of Ryan Wilder, who will take over the mantle of Batwoman from season two onwards, after being inspired by the vigilante's actions in the past.

At the start of the season, Kate Kane is involved in a plane crash that takes her off the board for some time, but the character does return later on in the series when Krypton star Wallis Day takes over the role.

Kane's friends and family will remain a big part of the show going forward, meaning fans won't have to bid farewell to every character they got to know over the course of season one.

Camrus Johnson and Nicole Kang will still have major roles as tech whizz Luke Fox and medical student Mary Hamilton, which suggests they could help Ryan Wilder find her footing as the new Batwoman.

Kate's troubled father Jacob (Dougray Scott) will also return as well as her psychopathic sister Alice (Rachel Skarsten), but it will be interesting to see how their dynamic shifts with Kate out of the picture.

We can also expect more from Meagan Tandy as Kate's ex-girlfriend Sophie Moore, who is a protector of Gotham in her own right as one of the Crows' leading operatives.

In September 2020, Leah Gibson was confirmed to be joining the Arrowverse as "The Whisper". Gibson has previous experience on a superhero franchise, having previously starred in Jessica Jones.

She will be playing the villainous Tatiana who, according to Deadline, will be a deadly assassin who is "unflappable and cold as ice in the face of danger".

And also in September, it was revealed that Devious Maids star Nathan Owens would also be joining the series, playing Ocean, a zen gardener and thinker with a complicated past who is described as "a loyal soldier and fighter" who "moves to Gotham for a new beginning".

Meanwhile, former EastEnders actor Shivani Ghai joins the cast in the recurring role of Safiyah, who was previously leader of the pirate island of Coryana and is a prominent figure in Alice's traumatic past.

"She's not what we expected from season one," Ghai told Entertainment Weekly. "She does come across as someone who is quite charming and kind. She has a definite soft spot for Alice. You will learn as we go on that there's definitely a much deeper relationship there."

Finally, longtime followers of the DC Comics television universe will be thrilled to see David Ramsey return as a guest star in his role of John Diggle, who was a major player on the show that started it all: Arrow.

"To say I'm excited beyond belief to return to the Berlantiverse would be an understatement. I can't wait to continue telling these stories," he said in a statement.

Who is new Batwoman actress Javicia Leslie?

It was announced last year that Javicia Leslie - an American actress best known for her role on comedy-drama series God Friended Me - will be taking over the role of Batwoman from Ruby Rose.

She said: "I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honoured to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community."

Previously, RadioTimes.com readers had voted for Stephanie Beatriz to be cast in the role, but it's unclear whether this would have been possible due to her existing commitment to hit sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Former star Ruby Rose took to Instagram to congratulate Leslie on getting the gig, saying: "I am so glad that Batwoman will be played by an amazing Black woman. I want to congratulate Javicia Leslie on taking over the bat cape.

"You are walking into an amazing cast and crew. I can’t wait to watch season two you are going to be amazing."

Leslie's character Ryan is described as "likeable, messy, a little goofy and untamed", but has a chequered past as a former drug runner who has spent years on the run from Gotham City's police department.

She's a "highly skilled and wildly undisciplined" fighter as well as an out lesbian, ensuring that Batwoman's groundbreaking LGBTQ+ representation remains at the heart of the show.

Showrunner Caroline Dries addressed the decision to abandon Kate Kane, a character who has a sizeable comic book fanbase, during a Q&A for ATX Festival At Home.

She said: “To be honest with you, I did consider the ‘soap opera version’ [of recasting] for a hot minute, because selfishly we already had a couple of episodes written, and transition-wise it would be seamless.

“But upon further reflection – and I think Greg [Berlanti] helped me make this call – he’s like, ‘I think we should just reboot Batwoman as a different character.’”

Recently, Dries explained how the new characters fit into the series "At first, she doesn't fit," she explained while speaking at the Legacy of the Bat panel at DC FanDome. "She doesn't fit literally. She makes it fit her.

"In making it fit her, she makes the Bat accessible to this whole other world of people who normally might not have a hero to look up to. So, she puts her stamp on the legacy."

Batwoman season 2 spoilers

The first season of Batwoman left a lot of threats to Gotham City at large, so Ryan Wilder will have her work cut out for her after she stumbles upon a certain super-suit amid the wreckage of Kate's jet.

For one thing, there's the matter of Bruce Wayne's former friend Tommy Elliott, who intends to wreak havoc across Gotham City – with one of his tools being a mask that makes him look identical to Wayne himself.

• For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021

Other details that were teased by The CW include a romance between Luke and Mary, as well as the arrival of Safiyah, a dangerous enemy from Alice's past who "knows exactly how to prey on her vulnerabilities".

Kate Kane will be involved in a plane crash in the opening episode of the season which will allow ample time for Ryan Wilder to take up the mantle of Batwoman – but Kane's return some time later will likely complicate matters.

Batwoman season 2 trailer

In January 2021, The CW uploaded a 5-minute clip from the season two premiere of Batwoman, which introduces Ryan Wilder to the world and reveals how her story links to that of the caped crusader.

Check it out below:

Batwoman returns to E4 on Sunday 18th April. Take a look at the rest of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.