Anne Hathaway will don the latest version of the catsuit.
I guess this would have to qualify as the first major casting announcement of the year, and it’s a good one. Deadline (and everyone else) reports that Anne Hathaway will play Catwoman in “The Dark Knight Rises. Also, Tom Hardy will play Bane (he was already known to be part of the cast, but there was no word about his character until now).
We’ve heard there will be two female leads in “The Dark Knight Rises,” but this is a big one, as Catwoman is an iconic character that people beyond the Batman universe know well. She’s been onscreen a number of times: Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt played her in the campy ’60s TV series. Michelle Pfeiffer knocked it out of the park with her performance as Catwoman/Selena Kyle in 1992′s “Batman Returns” (I’m not usually a Pfeiffer fan, but I felt she did a great job in that movie–which, by the way, is not successful, but is a very interesting failure. Starts great, then kind of loses focus part way through. I’d recommend seeing it even as just a curiousity). Halle Berry played the role in “Catwoman,” and that was a tremendous flop; it seems Catwoman and Batman need each other.
What do I think of Hathaway? I like the casting. I’m sure plenty of people will have a problem with it (when it comes to casting comic book roles, no one is ever happy), but I think she’s a fresh type for the part. She’s grown up a lot in the past few years and has moved well beyond her early start as just a pretty, happy girl. I’m willing to give her a chance.
Bane, by the way, is “an escaped prisoner who became abnormally strong after being pumped full of drugs. Bane is known as “the man who broke the Bat” after he broke Batman’s spinal cord in the comics storyline.” I’m sure Hardy will be fine, because when isn’t he?
So that’s one big female lead down, now who will be the other…?
Here’s the press release:
BURBANK, CA, January 19, 2011 – Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises.” She will be starring alongside Christian Bale, who returns in the title role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Christopher Nolan stated, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Anne Hathaway, who will be a fantastic addition to our ensemble as we complete our story.”
In addition, Tom Hardy has been set to play Bane. Nolan said, “I am delighted to be working with Tom again and excited to watch him bring to life our new interpretation of one of Batman’s most formidable enemies.”
Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven.
“The Dark Knight Rises” is slated for release on July 20, 2012. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
