The CW’s Batwoman has unleashed a striking image of Nicole Kang as Poison Ivy ahead of the show’s midseason finale on November 24. The image shows Mary Hamilton’s metamorphosis into Gotham City’s eco-terrorist turned supervillain, as she plans to sew seeds of evil in the crime-ridden metropolis. In the photo, Kang is wearing a tight green outfit while being flanked by two hungry venus flytraps. Vines and ivy grow beneath her feet and appear to coil around her exquisite limbs.
Kang tweeted the image herself on Friday while speaking about what an honor it is to play the character after someone as hypnotic as Uma Thurman.
“I was really emotional. I burst into tears,” Kang recently said to EW, recalling the first time she put on the full Poison Ivy costume. “It has given me purpose and drive, and ultimately, I’m really proud of how Poison Ivy came out. What I’m most proud of is that it is rooted in history, both comic and fashion history. And it is culturally conscious. And then I am what’s inside of it, what’s filling it. And as a Korean girl, that when it all came together.”
She continued: “Everybody, I think, has been wanting Mary to [become a superhero because there’s] the expectation that everybody suits up and for us to subvert that expectation — We have a Black Batwoman, we have Batwing, and an Asian Poison Ivy — it’s so cool. It’s really exciting for me to create a fully-fledged Asian villain. I think sometimes Asian villains are not explained, right? Their humanity is sometimes lost when in telling a story about a hero. And I think it’s super brilliant. I give [showrunner] Caroline Dries all the props of creating a hero, and then turning her into a villain. I am very thrilled.”
You can see the full image of Nicole Kang as Poison Ivy below:
Costume designer Maya Mani also released a statement about the creation of Poison Ivy’s outrageous outfit.
“I created this costume to reflect Mary’s desire to be seen and heard by those closest to her, while maintaining her unique eye for fun and fanciful fashion; a strong shoulder and a corset to symbolize a trellis guiding her alter ego upwards,” said Mani about reflecting Ivy’s personality and desire to be noticed with the new costume.
“I envisioned her character being intrinsically powerful, alluring and seductive, but also dangerous if pushed too far. It was the combination of beautiful glowy skin, with colors selected to enhance and celebrate Nicole’s complexion and structure,” said makeup department head Cory Roberts. Hair department head Ashley Young added: “Nicole and I tried multiple wigs in different shades of red till we found the perfect one so that we didn’t lose ‘Mary’ in all the glamour but could reflect her and bring out her Poison Ivy alter ego.”
What do you think of Kang’s new look? Are you excited for this version of Poison Ivy to be featured in Batwoman? Let us know in the comments section below.