Zoë Kravitz's Catwoman has her whip in a new The Batman magazine cover. Originally developed as a solo film for Ben Affleck, The Batman evolved into a fresh reboot of the Dark Knight once the actor decided to mostly step away from the DC Extended Universe. This allowed director Matt Reeves to put his own stamp on Batman's movie future, including casting Robert Pattinson to play the iconic DC hero. After audiences saw Affleck's grizzled and experienced version of the character, The Batman takes Bruce Wayne back to the beginning of his superhero journey and is set during the second year of his Batman adventures.
Anticipation for The Batman has been extremely high throughout the project's development, and early looks at the film have only increased excitement. This includes two stellar trailers released so far, which highlight Pattinson's younger Batman, the detective story built around the murders by Riddler (Paul Dano), and a great ensemble cast. The Batman's existence outside the main DCEU continuity allowed Reeves to recast roles like Jim Gordon with Jeffrey Wright, but the movie is also reintroducing new versions of popular Batman characters. This includes the anticipated debut of Zoë Kravitz's Catwoman.
With The Batman's March 2022 release date rapidly approaching, the marketing machine is heating up. One of the routine parts of a blockbuster's marketing campaign is gracing the cover of Empire Magazine. For the magazine's December issue previewing 2022's massive movie lineup, The Batman received the cover treatment. This included three covers, including one specifically highlighting Zoë Kravitz's Catwoman. The close-up look at Selina Kyle provides a great look at her suit and includes the first look at Catwoman's signature whip.
Zoë Kravitz's Catwoman has been heavily featured throughout the film's marketing campaign. The Batman's trailers have teased what seems to be her and Batman's first encounter and the fight that ensues. But Catwoman and Batman should be allies more than foes throughout Pattinson's solo film. Exactly how big of a role she'll play in The Batman still remains to be seen, although there are signs that Selina and Bruce will be romantically involved, or at least interested in that possibility. The Empire cover even includes a quote, seemingly from Kravitz, that describes her Catwoman journey as the origin of Selina becoming a femme fatale, which typically describes a seductive woman who brings a man into a dangerous situation.
Even before Catwoman's proper introduction in The Batman comes, many are already expecting Zoë Kravitz to deliver a great performance. She's got big shoes to fill after Michelle Pfeiffer, Anne Hathaway, and others brought the character to life in the past. However, Kravitz's Catwoman is the only one who could take on a larger role in the future. Matt Reeves is already developing multiple The Batman spinoff shows for HBO Max. If Catwoman is a big hit with audiences, Kravitz's character could be next in line to headline a standalone series that dives deeper into Selina Kyle's story before or after The Batman.
Source: Empire Magazine
