CW scraps Batwoman - Superman & Lois crossover due to pandemic
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The CW; Nino Muñoz/The CW
Remember the potential crossover between Batwoman and Superman & Lois that was being discussed in 2020? Well, it's no longer happening because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, EW has confirmed that there won't be a major Arrowverse crossover when the CW's superhero shows return.
Batwoman showrunner Caroline Dries told EW in a recent interview that she was disappointed she wouldn't get to see new Batwoman Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie) travel over to Superman & Lois.
"When we were getting crossed with Superman & Lois, I really was looking forward to seeing Batwoman on the Kent Farm," Dries said.
Back in May, CW president Mark Pedowitz revealed that they were hoping to tone things down following the massive five-show spectacle "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and were developing a two-hour crossover involving Batwoman and Superman & Lois. Because the CW's new season wasn't launching until January 2021, the prospective crossover wouldn't air until the first or second quarter. A few months later at DC FanDome, Arrowverse architect Greg Berlanti said their team-up aspirations weren't "quite as large" anymore because of the pandemic. And now we know what he meant.
The crossover's cancellation isn't particularly surprising because the scheduling alone makes the annual crossovers incredibly difficult to pull off during normal times. Moving dozens of actors across multiple in-production shows is basically like playing 4-D chess, and it's even more challenging to do now because of on-set COVID-19 safety protocols. Furthermore, the crossover is usually the eighth or ninth episode of each show's season, but the pandemic has created lots of uncertainty around episode air dates, making it very hard to craft a story that spans several series when there's no guarantee they'll be able to air at the same time.
It's not all bad news, because that crossover itch will still be scratched. As EW previously reported, Arrow alum David Ramsey is returning to the shared universe. On top of directing five episodes across the Arrowverse, he will guest-star as John Diggle on The Flash, Supergirl, Superman & Lois, and Batwoman, and play a mysterious role on DC's Legends of Tomorrow. And echoing what Arrow co-creator Marc Guggenheim has said in the past, the massive crossovers are super-fun, but it's the smaller ones like Diggle and Lyla (Audrey Marie Anderson) appearing on The Flash, Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale) cameoing on Legends, or now Ramsey popping up across multiple shows that make the universe feel so lived in.
In fact, Dries said she'd be open Melissa Benoist doing something similar after Supergirl ends this year and guest-starring in Batwoman season 3, especially because she's curious about Ryan and Kara's dynamic.
"I think that's something that would be amazing to explore," Dries said. "I don't know that we would ever see it in real life. But, for example, the way Diggle is coming onto our show this season, if Melissa did a run of episodes or something in our season 3, I would love [that]. Obviously, I love Melissa, but I would love to have Kara on our show and teach [Ryan] a thing or two, or see her in the Batcave."
Batwoman returns Sunday, followed by Black Lightning on Feb. 8, and The Flash and Superman & Lois on Feb. 23. Supergirl and DC's Legends of Tomorrow are being held for midseason.
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