Halle Berry says she believes Zoë Kravitz will make a “wonderful” Catwoman in the upcoming film, The Batman. The new DC picture directed by Matt Reeves is scheduled for release on March 4, 2022, after facing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cast as the iconic villainess and anti-hero, Selina Kyle, in 2019, Kravitz will star alongside Robert Pattinson as Batman, Paul Dano as Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, and Colin Farrell as Penguin. Set within its own universe outside of the DCEU, the new feature focuses on a younger and more inexperienced iteration of the Caped Crusader.
Berry starred as the titular femme fatale in 2004’s Catwoman. The story focused on a young designer who is revived and granted cat-like abilities after uncovering a dangerous conspiracy. Though it received abysmal reviews, currently holding a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Berry has managed to garner a cult following who have celebrated her depiction. She has since gone on to star in a number of major action pictures including X-Men, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Most recently, Berry made her directorial debut in Bruised, a sports drama in which she stars as disgraced MMA fighter, Jackie Justice.
In conversation with Variety, Berry gave her seal of approval to Kravitz’s iteration of Catwoman. Asked what advice she could give to her 33-year-old successor, Berry said, “Get ready, they might come for you.” Adding that she shouldn’t allow others to influence her portrayal, Berry expressed optimism over Kravitz’s DC debut, saying “I personally think she’s going to be a wonderful Catwoman.”
Fans have been treated to several previews of Kravitz’s upcoming performance. Trailers and stills have teased the on-screen chemistry between her Catwoman and Pattinson’s Batman, suggesting a tense and somewhat romantically charged crime-fighting partnership, typical of the comic books. While the return of Catwoman’s iconic whip has also been teased in recent images, Kravitz also confirmed that her leather-clad anti-hero would diverge from Batman lore in wielding a gun.
As one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in the DC universe, Kravitz will undoubtedly be subject to a great deal of fan scrutiny. Though Berry was arguably cast in one of the worst DC films ever made, the actress has previously stated that the film was one of her most financially successful, despite its negative reviews, and her words of encouragement and resilience should serve as a confidence boost to Kravitz. No matter how her portrayal is ultimately received, The Batman is already set as one of 2022’s most highly anticipated films and is likely to be a commercial success, come what may.
Source: Variety
