The creators of the upcoming Gotham TV series have revealed that the show will feature a prominent lesbian character.

The show, set to debut in the US later this month, focusses on Detective Gordon fighting crime years before Bruce Wayne becomes the iconic caped crusader.

However, the show’s co–executive producer Danny Cannon has said that he won’t let the “out-of-date” values of the original comic books stand in the way of diversity.

The show will feature Latina lesbian detective Renee Montoya – a later addition to the comic book universe, who came out as a lesbian in comic form in 2003.

Her appearance will mark the first time that a live-action Batman production has featured an openly LGBT character.

Mr Cannon, who also directed the first episode, told the Advocate: “Gotham is beautiful, dark, dangerous, and romantic. It’s the kind of cityscape you should look at and believe anything can happen, and that means everybody should exist there.

“There’s no way we on Earth we would have a show like this limit itself with out-of-date values.”

Victoria Cartagena, who will take on the recurring role of the detective, said: “Growing up, I rarely saw people of colour or gay people depicted in a positive light, and I know when you don’t see yourself reflected in the world around you, it does things to your self-esteem.

“I know if I had seen a character like Renee on TV when I was younger — a Latina who is smart, powerful, and strong — it would’ve encouraged me to dream bigger.

“So I know what she means to people, and if watching me means that I can help someone else feel included, than that makes me very happy.”

Pinkett Smith, who will play mob boss Fish Mooney on the show, added: “It’s a new day when we can have a show on television that is not afraid to explore various sexual orientations of women.

“Let us hope that this is a path toward even more change in regard to the perceptions of female sexuality, as well as our bodies in relation to sex.”

Gotham is set to première in the US on September 22 on FOX, and in the UK on Channel 5 next month.