Big Little Lies star Zoe Kravitz lands the coveted role of Gotham City's feline antihero Catwoman in Matt Reeves' upcoming DC film The Batman. One of the most popular characters in history, Batman is no stranger to the silver screen, and neither are his most famous foes. Of course, in the case of Catwoman/Selina Kyle, she's less a foe and more a frenemy. She's often both a criminal thorn in the Caped Crusader's side and the object of his affection, sometimes simultaneously.

Catwoman's first cinematic appearance was in the 1966 Batman film starring Adam West, a spinoff of the popular TV show airing at that time. Lee Meriwether portrayed the purrfect thief in that version, with Michelle Pfieffer taking over the role for Tim Burton's 1992 sequel Batman Returns. Covered in black leather and cracking a whip, Pfeiffer's take is perhaps the most beloved by fans. Finally, Anne Hathaway suited up as Catwoman for 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, directed by Christopher Nolan.

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Now, THR reports that Zoe Kravitz, who plays Bonnie Carlson on HBO's hit drama Big Little Lies, has been cast as Catwoman in DC's The Batman. Kravitz beat out multiple actresses for the role, including Ana de Armas, Ella Balinska, and Eiza Gonzalez. Amusingly, she's also the stepdaughter of Aquaman star Jason Momoa. Director Matt Reeves responded to the news with the following tweet:

Interestingly enough, this won't be Kravitz's first time bringing Catwoman to life, as she voiced the character in 2017's The Lego Batman Movie. It's unclear how much that might've influenced Reeves' decision to hire her though, as apparently the field of contenders wasn't finalized until just last week. Kravitz and the other three actresses mentioned above all did screentests with Pattinson, presumably to make sure the two performers would sport the right amount of chemistry together. Considering Batman and Catwoman's complex relationship, it's absolutely vital that there be a spark between the actors playing those roles.

It's still not entirely clear if Reeves' The Batman movie will be in the same continuity as the rest of the DC Extended Universe, as conflicting statements have been made in the past by those involved, and the reported casting of Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon doesn't make things any clearer. While there's certainly no reason an African-American actor can't play Jim Gordon, the character was previously played in Justice League by J.K. Simmons, and while The Batman focuses on a younger Dark Knight, explaining how Gotham's top cop went from white to black between appearances could be a bit difficult. This will be Catwoman's first appearance in the current run of DC films though, so Kravitz thankfully won't have to worry about any baggage connected to past DCEU actors, and can truly make this rendition of the cat burglar her own.

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Source: THR

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