There’s a new face coming to an old character on Gotham. The FOX series has cast another new actress to take on the role of Ivy Pepper, better known to audiences as Poison Ivy. Peyton List is joining the series as Ivy, beginning with an episode in early 2018. She will be the third person in four seasons to play the role, following in the footsteps of Clare Foley and Maggie Geha.
Originally introduced in season one as a young teen, Ivy was played by Foley as a streetwise orphan and friend of Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova). She appeared on the series sporadically until the beginning of season three when a touch from Marv (Victor Pagan), one of Huge Strange’s (BD Wong) monsters, caused her to age instantly. Geha then took over the role, appearing as Ivy throughout season three.
At the time, producers explained that aging up the character was done to bring her closer to the seductive villain fans know from the comics. Speaking at the 2016 Summer TCA press tour panel for Gotham, executive producer Ken Woodruff said, “We took someone who was a socially odd girl to someone who’s a bit darker, who is more willing to do things and harm people where she wouldn’t have before.”
Now, after Ivy was last seen drinking several potions to gain powers at the beginning of season four, they’re taking her in another new direction. “In the continuing evolution of Poison Ivy’s origin story, Ivy Pepper has been transformed once again taking another step toward becoming the Ivy we know from the comics. Dangerous. A live wire of crazy energy,” Gotham’s producers said in a statement on the casting change. “She’ll set her sights on Gotham, intent on making the city her own green paradise.”
This will not be the first time List has appeared as a villain on a DC Comics TV show. Previously, the actress guest starred in the first and second seasons of The Flash playing Lisa Snart, otherwise known as the Golden Glider and the sister of Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller). Her other credits include The Tomorrow People, Blood & Oil, and, most recently, Frequency.
Gotham airs Thursdays at 8:00p.m. on FOX.
