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The Nine Lives Of Selina Kyle: Ranking Every Catwoman In Movies And Her Shocking Future

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The iconic anti-heroine, Catwoman, has captivated audiences for decades, making her one of the most enduring and complex characters in the Batman universe. As of December 2025, the conversation around the 'Feline Fatale' is more vibrant than ever, thanks to her critically acclaimed recent cinematic appearances and major announcements about her future in the new DC Universe (DCU). This article dives deep into the history of Selina Kyle's cinematic journey, ranking every live-action portrayal and revealing the latest, most up-to-date news on who will next don the legendary catsuit.

The role of Catwoman is a coveted one, requiring a unique blend of athleticism, charm, moral ambiguity, and raw magnetism. Each actress who has taken on the mantle of Selina Kyle has left an indelible mark on the character, reflecting the cultural and cinematic trends of their era. From the campy, purring thief of the 1960s to the grounded, complex social justice warrior of the 2020s, her evolution is a mirror to the changing face of superhero cinema.

The Complete Cinematic Biography of Selina Kyle's Actresses

The character of Catwoman, or Selina Kyle, has been a fixture in film and television since the 1960s. The following list details the primary actresses who have portrayed the character in live-action feature films and the seminal 1960s TV series, which is often grouped with the movies due to its direct film adaptation.

  • Julie Newmar (Live-Action TV):
    • Role: Catwoman / Selina Kyle
    • Appearance: Batman (TV Series, 1966–1967)
    • Style: Sleek, golden-belted catsuit; known for her purring delivery and playful, flirtatious dynamic with Adam West’s Batman.
  • Lee Meriwether (Live-Action Film):
    • Role: Catwoman / Miss Kitka
    • Appearance: Batman: The Movie (1966)
    • Style: Portrayed an international spy version of the character, stepping in for Newmar for the feature film adaptation of the TV series.
  • Eartha Kitt (Live-Action TV):
    • Role: Catwoman / Selina Kyle
    • Appearance: Batman (TV Series, 1967–1968)
    • Style: Her portrayal was fierce, with a distinct, growling voice, bringing a new level of intensity to the role in the final season.
  • Michelle Pfeiffer (Live-Action Film):
    • Role: Catwoman / Selina Kyle
    • Appearance: Batman Returns (1992)
    • Style: The iconic, stitched-up, high-contrast black vinyl catsuit. Her origin story involves a resurrection by alley cats after being murdered by Max Shreck.
  • Halle Berry (Live-Action Film):
    • Role: Catwoman / Patience Phillips
    • Appearance: Catwoman (2004)
    • Style: A drastically different origin story and costume—a shredded leather bikini-style outfit—in a standalone film that is not part of the Batman continuity.
  • Anne Hathaway (Live-Action Film):
    • Role: Catwoman / Selina Kyle
    • Appearance: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
    • Style: A grounded, practical thief and master of disguise in Christopher Nolan's realistic Gotham, featuring a sleek, utilitarian suit with high-tech goggles that form the "ears."
  • Zoë Kravitz (Live-Action Film):
    • Role: Catwoman / Selina Kyle
    • Appearance: The Batman (2022)
    • Style: A gritty, street-level vigilante with a DIY-style catsuit, focused on a personal mission of justice in a corrupt Gotham.

The Cinematic Evolution of the Feline Fatale

The journey of Catwoman on the big screen is a fascinating study in character reinvention. The core entities of the character—her moral ambiguity, her flirtatious rivalry with Batman, and her iconic catsuit—have been reinterpreted dramatically across different eras and directorial visions.

The Golden Age: Camp and Charisma (1960s)

The earliest live-action portrayals by Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, and Eartha Kitt established Catwoman as a glamorous, albeit theatrical, villain. Her primary motivation was often to steal priceless artifacts, and her dynamic with Batman was pure, unadulterated sexual tension and witty banter. The costumes were simple, sleek, and often brightly colored, reflecting the camp aesthetic of the 1966 TV series and film. Eartha Kitt's casting, in particular, was groundbreaking, adding a layer of fierce, uncompromising authority to the character.

The Gothic Resurrection: Trauma and Transformation (1992)

Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal in Tim Burton's Batman Returns is often cited as the definitive cinematic Catwoman. This version introduced a dark, psychological depth to Selina Kyle, transforming her from a mousy, underestimated secretary into a vengeful, psychologically fractured anti-hero after a near-death experience. The iconic stitched-up vinyl costume symbolized her broken psyche and violent rebirth. Her relationship with Michael Keaton's Batman was a complex, passionate dance between love and mutual destruction, exploring the theme of damaged souls finding solace in each other.

The Controversial Misstep: The Patience Phillips Era (2004)

The standalone Catwoman movie starring Halle Berry is a critical point of discussion in the character's history. The film completely detached the character from the Selina Kyle/Gotham City mythology, instead creating a new character named Patience Phillips, who gains feline powers through mystical means. The film's critical and commercial failure, along with the controversial, revealing costume, serves as a cautionary tale about straying too far from the character's established lore and topical authority.

The Realist Thief: Practicality and Social Justice (2012–2022)

Anne Hathaway’s Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises brought a grounded, morally ambiguous master thief into Christopher Nolan’s realistic world. Her motivations were rooted in social commentary—stealing from the rich to survive and escape Gotham's decay. The costume was utilitarian, with the high-tech goggles becoming the 'ears' when flipped up.

Most recently, Zoë Kravitz’s portrayal in Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022) continued this trend of realism, focusing on Selina Kyle’s roots as a struggling waitress and street-level criminal fighting for the marginalized. Her early costume was a DIY ensemble, reflecting her status as a budding vigilante. Kravitz’s performance was widely praised for its depth, grit, and exploration of Selina’s bisexuality and complex relationship with Bruce Wayne, setting a new standard for the character.

The Latest Scoop: Catwoman in the DCU and Beyond

The future of Catwoman on screen is bright, with multiple confirmed and rumored projects ensuring the character’s longevity. Fans of the 'Bat and the Cat' dynamic have much to look forward to, particularly from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn.

James Gunn Confirms Catwoman for the DCU

One of the most significant and *current* updates is the confirmation that Catwoman will be a part of the newly rebooted DC Universe, helmed by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Gunn has indicated that Selina Kyle will appear in the DCU's *The Brave and the Bold* film, which focuses on Batman and his son, Damian Wayne (Robin). While an actress has not been officially cast, this news guarantees a fresh, new live-action interpretation of the character, likely exploring the complex romantic and adversarial relationship with the new DCU Batman. This commitment from the studio is a huge win for fans of the iconic duo.

Upcoming Animated and Rumored Projects (2025)

Beyond the main DCU, Catwoman continues to appear in diverse projects, proving her enduring appeal:

  • Animated Debut: A new version of Catwoman is set to appear in the animated film *Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires*, which is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max in September 2025. This striking redesign will present a culturally unique take on the character, a testament to her versatility.
  • Standalone Film Rumors: Speculation has been rampant regarding a new standalone Catwoman film. While not officially confirmed by DC Studios, names like Sydney Sweeney and Megan Fox have been rumored to be in contention for a potential 2025 project, though these reports often stem from concept trailers and fan-casting enthusiasm rather than concrete studio announcements.

The continued evolution of Selina Kyle, from a glamorous thief to a sophisticated anti-hero with a strong moral code, ensures that the discussion around "Catwoman in movies" will remain a vibrant and essential part of the superhero cinema landscape for years to come. Her nine lives are far from over.

The Nine Lives of Selina Kyle: Ranking Every Catwoman in Movies and Her Shocking Future
catwoman in movies
catwoman in movies

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