After seeming to take forever to get ready, Matt Reeves’ The Batman is finally gearing up for production with several big casting announcements. One of the most interesting is the news that Zoë Kravitz will be stepping in to play the role of Catwoman alongside Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader.
As with any casting for a superhero movie, there has been a lot of discussion about Kravitz taking the role. Having such an intense and compelling actor as Kravitz certainly has the potential to be great, but it also brings up some concerns. Here are some of the reasons we are excited Zoë Kravitz is the new Catwoman and some reasons we’re not.
Excited: Action
With each new Batman film, it seems like the action is getting better and better. Here’s hoping the trend continues in The Batman and we are shown some truly amazing action sequences in the movie.
What would be especially entertaining is seeing Catwoman getting in on the action. The character is certainly capable of handling herself in a fight and her cat-burglar career could allow for some thrilling sequences as well. It could allow us to see the badass side of Catwoman that isn’t always shown in the movies.
Not Excited: Too Many Villains
There are still a lot of details we don’t know about this latest Batman film. However, all the casting news that has come out recently have provided some clues. Along with Kravitz, we also know that Paul Dano will be playing The Riddler, while Jonah Hill was in talks for a role.
Though Hill was reportedly circling the Riddler role, some reports suggest the role of Penguin was also on the table. With Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman all possibly in the film, that feels pretty overstuffed. We’ve all seen what becomes of superhero movies that cram too many villains in and it’s not pretty.
Excited: Kravitz’s Skills
When considering the casting of any role, the only thing we really need to consider is whether or not the actor in question is talented. In Kravitz’s case, the answer is obviously a yes. She has proven her talent many times before and in a variety of roles.
With Matt Reeves helming the project and the talented cast involved, it bodes well for the film’s script. It will be exciting to see what new aspect Kravitz will bring to the iconic character and how she will make the role her own.
Not Excited: Using Kravitz Correctly
Kravitz has been building a steady career for herself as an actor over the last decade or so. She has been a part of some pretty high-profile projects like X-Men: First Class, Mad Max: Fury Road and Big Little Lies.
But despite the impressive resume, she has not been given many opportunities to really shine. Though she shows serious talent in her body of work, she hasn’t been given anything too substantial to date. Hopefully, the Catwoman role is something she can really work with and not another underwritten part.
Excited: Kravitz And Pattinson
It’s always interesting to consider which actors will be paired as heroes and villains together in superhero films. With Batman and Catwoman, that pairing becomes even more interesting because of the characters’ dynamics together.
The idea of Kravitz and Pattinson sharing the screen as these two beloved characters is an incredibly exciting idea. Both are such intense and thrilling actors that we’re expecting their scenes together to be electric and we’re sure they’ll bring out the best in each other’s performances.
Not Excited: Young Cast
There was a bit of an outcry when Robert Pattinson was cast as Batman that he was still seen as the kid from Twilight. That perception was incredibly unfair, not only because Pattinson has given some amazing performance since Twilight, but also because he is far from a kid now.
Despite the fact that Pattinson is older than Christian Bale was in Batman Begins, there is a feeling that The Batman is being cast with members of young Hollywood. Kravitz’s casting adds to that feeling. And even though they are all talented actors, it could feel like we’re watching kids play superheroes.
Excited: Possible Joker Connection
It has been said many times that Joker is a standalone movie that will not connect to the rest of the DCEU. While we’re sure it was made with that intention, after breaking so many box office records, Warner Bros. might have a change of heart.
There is a fan theory that suggests The Batman and Catwoman connect to the Arthur Fleck version of the Joker. The theory is that the daughter of Sophie (Zazie Beetz) will grow up to become Catwoman. If true, it might be an interesting way to connect the characters.
Not Excited: Well-Known Character
It can be fun to see iconic characters brought to life on the big screen in different variations and by different actors. However, sometimes it’s nice to see characters that don’t often appear in live-action adventures.
Aside from Joker, Catwoman is the Batman villain we have seen the most of on the big screen. She has previously been played by Lee Meriwether, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway. Maybe it would have been more exciting to see Kravitz cast as Poison Ivy to change things up a bit.
Excited: Villain
Though she may have a bit more of a moral center than most of Batman’s villains, Catwoman is still very much on the bad guys’ team. She and Batman see eye-to-eye at times, but they are more often fighting each other. However, we haven’t really gotten to see that villainous side of Catwoman in the films yet.
The movies have always portrayed her as very much of an anti-hero who is easy to root for. The Batman could be an opportunity to explore more of the gray area of the character and make her a bit more complex.
Not Excited: Love Interest
Catwoman and Batman have a long history in the comics. While they often find themselves on opposite sides of the law, they also share a pretty clear attraction to each other. In fact, in both Batman Returns and The Dark Knight Rises, this romance was depicted on the big screen.
We certainly expect that development between the characters to be featured in The Batman as well. But while some romance is not a bad thing, we do hope that Catwoman is given more to do than being a complicated love interest for the hero.
