‘Batwoman’ Adds Shivaani Ghai As Safiyah
by Erik Amaya
Despite the changes coming to Batwoman, one thing will carry over from Season 1: Safiyah Sohail.
Teased late in the first year, Safiyah is the woman Alice (Rachel Skarsten) seemed to be hiding from. She also has ties to Julia Pennyworth (Christina Wolfe) and, quite possibly, the murder of Lucius Fox. In the series, she will be played by Shivaani Ghai (accoding to Deadline), a veteran of Syfy’s short-lived Dominion. Based on the character devised by Marguerite Bennett, James Tynion IV and Steve Epting, she is described as “the fiercely protective ruler” of Coryana, a small island community. Said to possess “as many enemies as aliases,” she is “beloved by her people and will stop at nothing to protect what’s hers. No one goes unnoticed by Safiyah, specifically when it comes to those who have encountered the Desert Rose.”
This is fairly consistent with the character from the comics. And while it seems she will be a foil for new Batwoman Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie), her connection with Alice will no doubt keep Kate’s (Ruby Rose) sister tied to Gotham as it offers her some refuge from her old associate.
Batwoman returns to The CW in January.
