Should Jewish Lesbian Batwoman Be Played by a Jewish Lesbian Actress?

In exciting news, the CW is developing a show about Batwoman. And not just any Batwoman: a Jewish lesbian Batwoman named Kate Kane. As John Paul Brammer reported in them., “Batwoman was established as a Jewish lesbian all the way back in 2006, when she became the first-ever lesbian character to head up a DC comic book title after being reintroduced following a long hiatus.”

This is very exciting, obviously. Jews! Lesbians! Jewish lesbians!

To Deadline, the CW explains, “Kate Kane 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.”

What’s missing from their description? Her Jewishness.

The CW is looking to cast a lesbian actress in the role. But… many on Twitter are wondering: Why can’t that actress also be Jewish? In an industry where so many Jewish roles go to non-Jewish actors, many fans are hoping for Jewish representation on the screen.

Many are also hoping for representation in the writer’s room as well, and for the CW not to mess up.

But really, the question we’re all asking…

Header image via DC Comics

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