Catwoman in other media

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Adaptations of Catwoman in other media
Created byBob Kane
Bill Finger
Original sourceComics published by DC
First appearanceBatman #1 (1940)
Films and television
Film(s)Batman (1966)
Batman Returns (1992)
Catwoman (2004)
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
Batman: Year One (2011)
DC Showcase: Catwoman (2011)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: Part 2 (2013)
Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Superheroes Unite (2013)
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)
DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year (2016)
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)
DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games (2017)
Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)
Batman Ninja (2018)
Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High (2018)
Batman Ninja (2018)
DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis (2018)
Batman: Hush (2019)
Batman: The Long Halloween (2021)
Injustice (2021)
Catwoman: Hunted (2022)
The Batman (2022)
Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse (2022)
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires (2025)
Television
show(s)
Batman (1966)
The Batman/Superman Hour (1968)
The New Adventures of Batman (1977)
Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
The New Batman Adventures (1997)
Batman Beyond (2000)
Birds of Prey (2002)
The Batman (2004)
Robot Chicken (2005)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008)
DC Nation Shorts (2011)
Mad (2012)
Gotham (2014)
Teen Titans Go! (2017)
DC Super Hero Girls (2019)
Harley Quinn (2020)
Batwheels (2022)
Batman: Caped Crusader (2024)

Catwoman is a fictional character first appearing over 85 years ago in issue 1 of the Batman comic book. After her debut she would appear in many forms of media including live-action and animated film, radio, live-action and animated television, records, video games, web series, live performance, and podcasts. The character has made live-action appearances in the Batman television series (1966–68), its film adaptation Batman (1966), Batman Returns (1992), Catwoman (2004), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Gotham (2014–19), and The Batman (2022). The character has also appeared in numerous animated television series and movies, most notably Batman: The Animated Series (1992–95) and The Lego Batman Movie (2017), as well as video games such as the Batman: Arkham series.

She has been portrayed in live action by Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, Camren Bicondova, Lili Simmons and Zoë Kravitz, and has been voiced by Adrienne Barbeau, Grey DeLisle, Kravitz, Elizabeth Gillies, and numerous others.

Live-action

Catwoman (portrayed by Julie Newmar) as depicted in the first and second seasons of Batman (1966).
Camren Bicondova, who portrays a young Selina Kyle in Gotham
  • Catwoman appears in Batman (1966), portrayed by Julie Newmar in the first and second seasons, Eartha Kitt in the third season, Lee Meriwether in the series' film adaptation (see below)[1] and an uncredited body double in the episode "The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra". All three primary Catwomen are described by comic writer, Marc Andreyko, in an afterword to a Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 omnibus, as being akin to a "Darrin [Stevens]-in-Bewitched bit of silent recasting" and his colleague, co-writer Jeff Parker, liked how their story "leaves no one out and the readers got it immediately".[2] In the TV series, Catwoman was given neither a background nor an alter ego. Instead, it focused on her costumed aspects. The costume created for the series was similar to the green catsuit that appeared in the comics at the time, though it was constructed by Newmar from black Lurex fabric. One of these costumes tailored for Newmar was later added to the Smithsonian Institution.[3] Due to other commitments, Newmar was unavailable for the aforementioned film produced after the first season or for the series' third season.[4]
  • Catwoman appears in Birds of Prey, portrayed by Casey Elizabeth Easlick. This version is a metahuman with cat-like abilities and the mother of Huntress who was killed by Clayface years prior.
  • A young Selina Kyle appears in Gotham, portrayed by Camren Bicondova as a teenager[5] and Lili Simmons as an adult.[6] This version is initially a 13-year-old thief and orphan who lives on Gotham City's streets and witnesses the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne.[7] After being saved from the Dollmaker's henchmen by GCPD Detective Jim Gordon, she forms a tenuous alliance with him,[8] promising to help him solve the Waynes' murder in exchange for reducing her criminal record. In the meantime, Gordon arranges for her to stay at Wayne Manor, where she befriends the young Bruce Wayne.[9][10] Throughout the rest of the series, Selina overcomes her insecurities and develops a love-hate relationship with Bruce while helping him keep order in Gotham City despite often butting heads with him due to her moral ambiguity. While she takes inspiration from previous Catwoman actresses Michelle Pfeiffer and Anne Hathaway, among others, Bicondova wanted to portray a side of Kyle not seen before, focusing on her past.[11][5] As the series finale jumps ten years into the future from the rest of the series, Bicondova did not feel comfortable portraying her character as an adult, and at her request, an older actress was chosen to portray the adult Kyle.[12][13] Warner Bros. Television cast Simmons in the role, with her and Bicondova collaborating closely on the adult Kyle's characterization.[6]

Animation

Catwoman, as seen in The Batman.

DC Animated Universe

Catwoman, as she appears in Batman: The Animated Series (left) and The New Batman Adventures (right)

Catwoman appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), voiced by Adrienne Barbeau.[15]

  • First appearing in Batman: The Animated Series (1992), her design took inspiration from Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal, with long blonde hair in her civilian identity and a predominately gray catsuit with long black gloves and boots, causing her to resemble a seal-point Siamese cat. Furthermore, this series establishes Catwoman as a socialite and animal rights activist in addition to being a costumed thief in her early appearances and highlights her feelings towards Batman. Though she displays a crush on him, she tries to keep her distance from Batman and Bruce Wayne, who she previously dated.
  • For The New Batman Adventures, Catwoman was redesigned to have an entirely black catsuit, light blue facial makeup, and short black hair.
  • Catwoman appears in the short featurette "Chase Me".
  • A spin-off focused on Catwoman was in production before being cancelled. Nonetheless, it was later reconsidered years later as a dual spin-off also focused on Nightwing.[22]

Film

Live-action

Actresses who have played Catwoman in live-action:
(top) Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer
(bottom) Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, Camren Bicondova, and Zoe Kravitz.
Crew Film
Batman
(1966)
Batman Returns
(1992)
Catwoman
(2004)
The Dark Knight Rises
(2012)
The Batman
(2022)
Catwoman portrayer Lee Meriwether Michelle Pfeiffer Halle Berry Anne Hathaway Zoë Kravitz
Director Leslie H. Martinson Tim Burton Pitof Christopher Nolan Matt Reeves
Producer William Dozier Denise Di Novi
Tim Burton
Denise Di Novi
Edward L. McDonnell
Emma Thomas
Christopher Nolan
Charles Roven
Matt Reeves
Dylan Clark
Writer Lorenzo Semple Jr. Screenplay by: Daniel Waters
Story by: Daniel Waters and Sam Hamm
Screenplay by: John Brancato & Michael Ferris and John Rogers
Story by: Theresa Rebeck, John Brancato and Michael Ferris
Screenplay by: Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan
Story by: Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer
Matt Reeves
Peter Craig
Composer Nelson Riddle Danny Elfman Klaus Badelt Hans Zimmer Michael Giacchino
Cinematography Howard Schwartz Stefan Czapsky Thierry Arbogast Wally Pfister Greig Fraser
Editor Harry Gerstad Chris Lebenzon Sylvie Landra Lee Smith William Hoy
Production Companies William Dozier Productions
Greenlawn Productions
Warner Bros.
PolyGram Films
Village Roadshow Pictures
Di Novi Pictures
Legendary Pictures
Syncopy Films
DC Films
6th & Idaho
Dylan Clark Productions
Distributor 20th Century Fox Warner Bros. Pictures
Released July 30, 1966 June 19, 1992 July 23, 2004 July 20, 2012 March 4, 2022
Runtime 104 minutes 126 minutes 104 minutes 165 minutes 176 minutes
Catwoman (portrayed by Lee Meriwether) as depicted in Batman (1966)
Catwoman (portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer) as depicted in Batman Returns
Patience Phillips / Catwoman (portrayed by Halle Berry as depicted in her self-titled film
Catwoman (portrayed by Anne Hathaway) as depicted in The Dark Knight Rises
Catwoman (portrayed by Zoë Kravitz) as depicted in The Batman (2022)
  • Catwoman appears in the movie Batman, portrayed by Lee Meriwether. Following production of the series' first season, Julie Newmar was intended to reprise the role until the producers learned she would be unavailable due to prior commitments. This version is based on the TV show Batman (1966).[4]
  • Selina Kyle / Catwoman appears in Batman Returns (1992), portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer. For her design, screenwriter Daniel Waters took inspiration from Kyle's appearance in Catwoman: Her Sister's Keeper while her characterization drew on her pre-Crisis interpretation.[23][24] Prior to Pfeiffer's casting, Madonna, Jennifer Beals, Lorraine Bracco and Demi Moore were linked to the role, with Madonna in particular as the frontrunner, while Sean Young campaigned heavily to take on the role. When it was suggested to director Tim Burton that Pfeiffer was interested, the producers thought "She's perfect. She also could be both Selina Kyle and Catwoman."[25][26] This version of Kyle is the mousy, lonely, and frustrated secretary of corrupt tycoon Max Shreck. After inadvertently stumbling onto his plot to steal Gotham City's electricity, he attempts to murder her. However, she is mysteriously revived by a group of cats. Returning home, she suffers a psychotic break and reinvents herself as the seductive and deadly Catwoman. While seeking revenge on Shreck, she allies herself with the Penguin, comes into conflict with Batman, and enters a brief relationship with Bruce Wayne, initially unaware that he is Batman. Eventually, she succeeds in killing Shreck, during which she is presumed dead as well. However, her body disappears while a figure wearing her suit later surfaces.
  • Following Batman Returns, Burton stated that he had no interest in returning to direct a sequel, but he stayed on as a producer.[27] With Warner Bros. moving on development for Batman Forever in June 1993, a Catwoman spin-off film was announced, with Pfeiffer intended to reprise her role in the latter film instead of Forever.[28] Burton was attached to direct the spin-off while producer Denise Di Novi and writer Daniel Waters also returned.[29] In January 1994, Burton became unsure of his plans to direct Catwoman or an adaptation of "The Fall of the House of Usher".[30] On June 16, 1995, Waters turned in his Catwoman script to Warner Bros., the same day that Batman Forever was released. Burton was still being courted to direct. Waters joked, "Turning it in the day Batman Forever opened may not have been my best logistical move, in that it's the celebration of the fun-for-the-whole-family Batman. Catwoman is definitely not a fun-for-the-whole-family script."[31] In an August 1995 interview, Pfeiffer re-iterated her interest in the spin-off, but explained her priorities would be challenged as a mother and commitments to other projects.[32] The film labored in development hell for years, with Pfeiffer later being replaced by Ashley Judd. The film ended up becoming Catwoman (see below).[33][34]
  • In 2000, Warner Bros. commissioned Darren Aronofsky for an adaptation of Batman: Year One to reboot the original Batman film franchise. The script featured an African-American Selina Kyle / Catwoman in a prominent role.[35] However, no further progress was made.
  • A young Julie Newmar as Catwoman appears in Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt, portrayed by Julia Rose. Additionally, Newmar herself and Meriwether appear as well.[36][37]
  • An original incarnation of Catwoman named Patience Phillips appears in a self-titled film, portrayed by Halle Berry. She is a graphic designer working for a cosmetics company called Hedare Beauty. After she learns their anti-aging skin cream, Beau-Line, has deadly side effects, the company's CEO's wife Laurel Hedare orders Patience to be killed. However, she is mysteriously revived by Midnight, an Egyptian Mau, and granted cat-like abilities. Donning a mask to protect her identity, Patience becomes Catwoman to seek revenge. This eventually leads her to Laurel, who murders her husband and attempts to frame Patience for it, only to later fall to her death. In addition to Patience, other Catwomen are alluded to, such as Pfeiffer's incarnation. The film was poorly received by critics and audiences and is commonly listed as one of the worst films ever made.
  • Selina Kyle appears in The Dark Knight Rises, portrayed by Anne Hathaway.[38][39] Entertainment Weekly describes Hathaway's portrayal as an enigmatic, wily, and witty con artist, as well as a high society grifter. Moreover, Hathaway believed that she was auditioning for Harley Quinn.[40] Prior to Hathaway's casting, Natalie Portman, Eva Green, Keira Knightley, Kate Mara, Gemma Arterton, Blake Lively, and Lady Gaga were considered for the role.
  • Zack Snyder, director of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, wanted Carla Gugino to portray Selina Kyle / Catwoman. The scene was going to be a flashback to ten years prior, wherein she and Batman reunite following a previous encounter.[41][42] Eliza Dushku, who voiced Catwoman in other DC projects, was also considered to portray Catwoman.[43][44]
  • Prior to the announcement that Michael Keaton would be reprising his role as Batman in The Flash,[45] Pfeiffer previously stated a willingness and enthusiasm to reprise her own role as Catwoman.[46][47] In a 2021 interview with Screen Rant, she stated that she would have been interested in doing so, but she would not be appearing in the film.[48]
  • Selina Kyle / Catwoman appears in The Batman (2022), portrayed by Zoë Kravitz.[49][50] Prior to Kravitz's casting, Zazie Beetz, Alicia Vikander, Ana de Armas, Ella Balinska, and Eiza Gonzalez also auditioned for the role. This version is the daughter of Carmine Falcone and a woman named Maria who works for him as a waitress at the Iceberg Lounge nightclub alongside her roommate Annika Koslov while moonlighting as a cat burglar.[51][52]

Animation

Video games

Lego

Batman: Arkham

Catwoman appears in the Batman: Arkham franchise, voiced by Grey DeLisle.

Miscellaneous

Actresses

References

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