The new version of Catwoman in The Batman already looks like a better representation of the comic character than the iteration seen in The Dark Knight Rises. Directed and co-written by Matt Reeves, The Batman will be the first installment of a new Batman continuity, providing a fresh new take on the Dark Knight’s iconic mythos. This includes a new version of Catwoman, played by Zoe Kravitz. If The Batman’s trailers are any indication, Kravitz’s version of Catwoman will be much closer to the Selina Kyle of the comics than the previous film iteration, played wonderfully by Anne Hathaway in Christopher Nolan’s critically-acclaimed Batman films.
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy rebooted WB’s near-decade-long Batman film series by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher. Nolan’s films notably grounded his films in (relative) realism, exploring the psychology of Bruce Wayne and explaining his methods and gadgetry as Batman. The upcoming reboot appears to be taking a similar approach to Nolan’s trilogy, though perhaps with a bit more comic book inspiration.
Christopher Nolan’s realistic take on the Batman mythos applied to Catwoman as well. While Hathaway’s version of Selina Kyle is a highly-skilled and morally gray cat burglar who becomes an ally (and eventual love interest) to Bruce Wayne, many of her comic counterpart’s traits are glossed over or ignored. Zoe Kravitz’s upcoming iteration of Catwoman is already proving to be a more comic-accurate depiction of the character, based on The Batman’s promotional material. Moreover, the fact that Kravitz’s version of Catwoman is being introduced in the first installment of a new Batman film series rather than its finale gives her time to develop the role even more.
Although The Batman hasn’t been released yet, its trailers indicate a version of Catwoman that takes more inspiration from the comics than Hathaway’s. Kravitz’s Catwoman appears to be patterned after Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One graphic novel, with shorter hair and an apartment filled with adopted stray cats. Kyle’s quip about nine lives also indicates that, despite Reeves’ realistic tone for the film, she isn’t above comic-book-style one-liners that tie into her motif. Additionally, several moments from a trailer appear to reference Batman Returns, framing Batman and Catwoman similarly to the 1992 film.
Selina Kyle is never referred to as “Catwoman” in The Dark Knight Rises, and her outfit only vaguely resembles her modern age comic book costume (with her goggles forming the iconic cat ear-like shape when worn above her eyes). While Kravitz’s costume in The Batman resembles the comic outfit even less (consisting of a simple ski mask and black bodysuit), the film likely represents her earliest outings as Catwoman, giving her room to gradually form the iconic costume.
Anne Hathaway’s more grounded version of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises fit the tone of Christopher Nolan’s movie perfectly. Hathaway’s version eschewed the more overt elements of her comic counterpart’s feline motif, depicting an ordinary (albeit formidable) thief. Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman seems to blend elements of both the comics and previous depictions of the iconic cat burglar, striking a balance between realism and comic book escapism. The Dark Knight Rises had perhaps the most realistic version of Selina Kyle, but The Batman will likely combine the best elements of her various depictions, making an even better version of Catwoman.
