>>110304469Steph has been very popular among female fans since her introduction and even inspired a website,
girlwonder.org, when she was killed off the first time. Before her Batgirl series was canceled, it was the first title I recommended to parents who want to get their kids, particularly their daughters, into comics.
Despite an interview in TV Guide and the release of cover art featuring Steph as the female Nightwing in the story, DC editorial headquartered in New York stepped in and squashed the appearance, replacing Steph with Barbara (Batgirl) Gordon as the Nightwing under the mask.
Apparently, the California office of DC Entertainment which handles Smallville Season 11 because of the television connection, hadn't realized that New York would object to Steph's appearance.
At first, when asked about the rumors of Steph being nixed were brought up at International Comic Con in San Diego last week, DC gave a confusing answer, seeming to say that Steph's appearance was only rumored, despite the TV Guide interview.
It wasn't until a day later that they confirmed that the change had been made. DC Co-Publisher Dan Didio confirmed at the DC NewWave panel that the change was because they wanted Smallville to use the "most iconic" version of the Nightwing character.
https://www.wired.com/2012/07/nightwing-swapped-out-in-smallville/