Call it divine intervention: God Friended Me actress Javicia Leslie will star as The CW's new Batwoman following the shocking departure of Ruby Rose.

In a statement, Leslie - who will make her debut in the show's Season 2 premiere, slated to air in January 2021 - said, `I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show, which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community.`

As previously reported, Leslie will play a new version of the titular superhero as opposed to taking over Rose's Kate Kane. Her character, Ryan Wilder, `is about to become Batwoman,` reads the official description. `She's likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed. She's also nothing like Kate Kane, the woman who wore the Batsuit before her. With no one in her life to keep her on track, Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits. Today Ryan lives in her van with her plant. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat and could also kill you with her bare hands, Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. An out lesbian. Athletic. Raw. Passionate. Fallible. And very much not your stereotypical All-American hero.`

View this post on Instagram

#Batwoman taps @Javicia Leslie to take over the title role in the CW series, following Ruby Rose's departure. More on her new character, Ryan Wilder, at the link in bio.

A post shared by Hollywood Reporter (@hollywoodreporter) on Jul 8, 2020 at 6:01pm PDT

Warner Bros. and The CW previously confirmed that, much like Rose's Katy Kane, the new character would be an out lesbian played by another LGBTQ actress. `The studio and network are firmly committed to Batwoman's second season and long-term future,` they said in a statement, `and we - along with the show's talented creative team - look forward to sharing its new direction, including the casting of a new lead actress and member of the LGBTQ community, in the coming months.`