Why Zoë Kravitz Never Thought She Would Be in ‘Big Movies’ Like ‘The Batman’
Zoë Kravitz says landing the role of Catwoman for the latest installment of Batman shocked her.
The daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz will play Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Batman. The film will premiere in March 2022. Kravitz joins Robert Pattison for the film, who stars as Batman. Actors like Michelle Pfeiffer and Anne Hathaway have both played Catwoman in separate Batman films.
‘The Batman’s’ Zoë Kravitz says she ‘didn’t see a lot of people who looked like me in big movies’ growing up
In October 2019, Variety announced Kravitz is the latest Catwoman alongside Pattinson’s Batman. Kravitz beat out several other actors who were up for the role, including Zazie Beetz, Eliza Gonzalez, and Alicia Vikander.
Kravitz sat down with The New York Times in February 2020 to discuss her new role as Catwoman. During the interview, Kravitz admitted to not seeing roles like Catwoman as a possibility. Although Kravitz worked on films like Divergent and X-Men: First Class, the actor said she initially doubted she would land roles in feature films.
“I really thought I was going to do theater and indie films,” Kravitz said of her earlier ambitions. “That was what I liked growing up. And also, that was what I thought I was suited for. I didn’t see a lot of people who looked like me in big movies.”
Zoë Kravitz admits that accepting the role as Catwoman in ‘The Batman’ was, ‘a little scary’
Kravitz’s career took a giant leap in 2020. In addition to landing her role as Catwoman, Kravitz landed a lead role in Hulu’s High Fidelity. The series premiered its first season on February 14, 2020.
Variety interviewed Kravitz about her role on High Fidelity in February 2020. The conversation led to Kravitz discussing her upcoming feature film. Kravitz told the outlet that she didn’t realize the weight of her being Catwoman. Kravitz said she felt how much the casting decision meant to “everybody else culturally.”
“It was a little scary, but also whenever I get nervous about something, I feel it pushes me to a better place anyway, so I welcome the nerves,” Kravitz said. “If you start focusing too much on what people are going to think you’re doing yourself a disservice, it’s almost like you’re putting your energy in the wrong place. Of course, I want to honor the fans and hope they like what I do with the role, but in order to do what I think I need to do with Catwoman, I have to go internal and forget about the rest of the world.”
Zoë Kravitz received praise from Halle Berry and Anne Hathaway after she landed her role on ‘The Batman’ as Catwoman
Though Kravitz was initially nervous about her role as Catwoman, several actors who wore the iconic costume before her offered their well-wishes. Anne Hathaway, who played Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises in 2012, shared her excitement for Kravitz on Instagram in October 2019.
“The biggest congrats to @zoeisabellakravitz on landing the role of a lifetime,” Hathaway wrote. “Well, one life anyway…Enjoy the ride, Selina.”
Halle Berry, who played the starring role in 2004’s Catwoman, also wished Kravitz well in her rendition of the character. Berry shared a touching message to Kravitz via Twitter and encouraged her to make the role hers.
“Special shout-out to your new #CatWoman, the eternally graceful & extremely badass @ZoeKravitz,” Berry tweeted. Keep shining Queen & welcome to the family!”
