MSNBC host Rachel Maddow will be heading to the CW’s upcoming superhero series, Batwoman. Maddow is expected to take on the role of Vesper Fairchild, a character introduced in the Batman comics.
Fairchild is a television and radio host who was romantically involved with billionaire Bruce Wayne, secretly the vigilante known as Batman. Maddow’s character is not expected to ever appear on screen but will be featured multiple times in the series.
Maddow made the announcement of her new role on Twitter. “I know no one’s going to believe this is true, but it’s true,” she tweeted. “My character is so not me; turns out playing her is one of the most fun things I’ve ever done.”
The political commentator is not a newcomer to the Batwoman universe. In the past Maddow wrote an introduction for the 2010 deluxe hardcover edition of the Batwoman graphic novel Elegy, written by Greg Rucka.
“We consider Vesper Fairchild to be the sardonic Voice of Gotham,” said Caroline Dries, the showrunner for the Batwoman series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “In addition to Rachel’s interest in Batwoman, 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.”
Dries who also worked on other hit CW series like The Vampire Diaries and Arrow, will executive produce the drama along with Greg Berlanti (The Flash, Arrow, Love Simon), an LGBTQ advocate. The show is the first of its kind to feature an out lesbian superhero as its lead, played by an openly gay actress.
The highly anticipated series will debut on Oct. 6, with Ruby Rose (Orange Is the New Black) in the role of Kate Kane and secretly Batwoman. Maddow is not featured in the show’s pilot episode, which screened at the San Diego Comic Con International convention in July, but is expected to soon make an appearance. The series will also showcase Camrus Johnson (The Sun Is Also a Star) as Luke Fox and Elizabeth Anweis (Twin Peaks: The Return, 911) as Catherine Hamilton-Kane.