MSNBC political pundit Rachel Maddow will be delivering a very different kind of news to the inhabitants of Gotham City on The CW’s new series ‘Batwoman’. Maddow has been tapped to portray gossip maven Vesper Fairchild, a character that, in the comic books, was romantically involved with Bruce Wayne. Maddow won’t appear on-screen, as it has been reported that hers is a voice-only role, meaning she delivers her dish either via radio or, more likely, a podcast. It is also stated that her voice will be heard on multiple episodes.
Maddow made the announcement via Twitter:
I know no one’s going to believe this is true, but it’s true.
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
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 4, 2019
‘Batwoman’ showrunner Caroline Dries stated:
“We consider Vesper Fairchild to be the sardonic Voice of Gotham. 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.”
Maddow is not normally an actor, but hosts her nightly political commentary program ‘The Rachel Maddow Show’ on MSNBC. She has also just released the #1 non-fiction book ‘Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth’ and is on tour to promote it.
RELATED: New Trailer Indicates That “Sundays Will Be Super” With The CW’s ‘Batwoman’ And ‘Supergirl’
Although not shown in the picture at the top, Maddow is known for often wearing dark-rimmed glasses which actually make her look like the character Vesper Fairchild in the comics, so it’s kind of too bad she won’t appear in the flesh on ‘Batwoman’.
In the seventh season of ‘Arrow’, Vesper is mentioned as an ex of Oliver Queen’s, but she wasn’t shown.
The character was first introduced in 1997’s ‘Batman’ #540 and became Bruce Wayne’s love interest. She was a talk radio host, nicknamed “the Siren of the Night.” She was “refrigerated” in 2002’s ‘Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure’ #1, when she was killed in Wayne Manor, with Bruce framed for the crime. This resulted in Batman briefly abandoning his Bruce Wayne identity.
Bruce Wayne isn’t expected to appear on ‘Batwoman’, so there isn’t much chance that this will play a part in Maddow’s depiction of Fairchild.
‘Batwoman’ is the latest addition to The CW’s Arrowverse and airs on Sunday nights at 8pm EST. ‘Supergirl’ follows at 9pm.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
