The CW’s upcoming Batwoman series has added another recurring cast member, although she won’t necessarily appear on-screen.
In an exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter, it was announced that MSNBC political commentator Rachel Maddow will be joining Batwoman in a recurring role. Maddow will be taking on the role of Vesper Fairchild who, in the comics, is a radio talk show host who was also in a relationship with Bruce Wayne. Eventually though, the character was killed by order of Lex Luthor to frame Bruce, forcing him to become a fugitive.
In a tweet, Maddow expressed her excitement about joining the Arrowverse’s latest superhero series:
I know no one's going to believe this is true, but it's true.
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 4, 2019
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
Maddow comes as a surprise, late addition to the cast of Batwoman, given that the series premieres this Sunday but, because it’s a voice-only role, it makes sense as to why it’s such a late addition. As Fairchild was a radio talk show host in the comics, and presumably the same here or even a podcaster, it fits why she wouldn’t need to show up in the flesh.
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On the production side, it also makes sense why she would only appear in a voiceover. It would be very difficult for Maddow to appear on Batwoman, as her show on MSNBC, The Rachel Maddow Show, films in New York City and airs Monday through Friday. Voiceovers take much less time to produce, and she can do them from her studio in New York City.
This doesn’t mean that Maddow can never appear in-person on the show, however. As mentioned above, the character is eventually killed, and Maddow could possibly appear in a cameo that way. The story in which her death occurs, “Bruce Wayne: Murderer?” could easily be adapted to fit Batwoman.
Maddow’s affinity for the Batwoman character stretches back to Kate Kane’s first solo story within the pages of Detective Comics‘ “Elegy,” written by Greg Rucka and art by J.H. Williams III. When the collected edition was released for the story, Maddow wrote the foreword for the collection, which carries over for re-releases of the collection to this day, including the most recent release featuring Ruby Rose on the cover.
Batwoman premieres this Sunday, October 6th at 8 p.m.