Batwoman exit caused by on-set injury, quarantine soul-searching according to Ruby Rose

Ruby Rose shocked the entertainment world this summer by exiting the lead role of The CW's Batwoman after the first season. With the show already set for Season 2, this (not unprecedented but still rare) move left many speculating as to the reasons behind the actor's departure.

Reports at the time cited a decision that wasn't entirely in her hands, work hours and expectations that weren't acceptable, and other factors: but not Rose's health. Now, with the superhero's mantle passed over from Kate Kane to Javicia Leslie's Ryan Wilder for Season 2, Rose has spoken up again to clarify why she left.

According to her conversation with EW, both her health and the coronavirus were major factors in her decision. Remember how her health reportedly wasn't a factor? Rose basically "broke [her] neck on the show," according to her own account of the stunt that injured her back in 2019. Looks like it was a factor after all.

"Being the lead of a superhero show is tough," Rose said. "Being the lead in anything is tough. But I think, in that particular instance, it was a lot more difficult because I was still recovering from my surgery. I had my surgery and then 10 days later I went to work, which maybe wasn't the best idea. Most people take about a month or three off before they return to work, so it was definitely made more difficult by that. But as far as being a lead of a show or a film —  regardless if it's action or if it's emotional — in whichever ways it's taxing."

While she still expressed gratitude and positivity toward her experience shooting the first season, Rose explained that "it was also time for me to take a break to fully heal and then return" to TV, if she had the chance. But there was a trigger that caused the DC show's star to reconsider her leading role: the global COVID-19 pandemic. If being stuck indoors doesn't involve some soul-searching, it's not really a quarantine.

"You know, you have time in quarantine and sort of isolation to just think about a lot of different things and what you want to achieve in life and what you want to do," Rose said. "I think for both [me and the producers], it was a great opportunity to have a dialogue about a lot of things. I respect them so much and they've been so respectful to me."

Rose also gave some kind words for her successor. "I think she definitely knows what she's doing and she seems fantastic," Rose said. "I think that honestly, I was so proud and so happy when I was told who would be replacing me. I'm just really stoked and I'm definitely going to watch the next season as well and see how it all comes together."

No word on when the new Batwoman will be gracing the small screen in the show's second season.