Angelina Jolie as Catwoman?

In the considerable wake of The Dark Knight, Batman casting was a big topic here last week; we received a couple hundred comments on what villains should and shouldn't be in the third Batman movie. If they can't make a Two-Face story stick, then I vote for Black Mask, a terrific, sinister bad guy who fits the current look and concept of Gotham City. He's not the biggest name in town, true, but then again, Ra's al Guhl? It didn't take long for the rumors to start flying about possible villains and possible casting choices. Here's one rumor that, much like Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, has that feeling of being too good to be true: Angelina Jolie as Catwoman. For a number of reasons, I don't think we'll see Catwoman in a Christopher Nolan Batman movie and I don't buy that there's much to this rumor. To begin with, does Bruce Wayne need a love interest at this point? I mean, they had to make one up out of thin air for the first two movies; Rachel Dawes doesn't exist before these movies. And it's not like that storyline stole the show in either film. So I don't buy the love interest thing, particularly for the most isolated, poorly-adjusted Bruce Wayne in the movies. As a villain, Catwoman is OK. But It seems a fairly obvious choice, especially if the franchise will only be a trilogy. She's just not threatening enough to the rest of Gotham City as she is to Bruce Wayne. Plus, it's a lot heavier on the camp than anything we've seen in the new series of films. It just feels incongruent. Having said that, if you're going to get a Catwoman, you may as well see if Angelina Jolie is interested, and according to the rumor mill, into which IGN dipped its cup, she is. She's probably too big a name and too much of a tabloid attraction, given the fervor over TomKat with Batman Begins and the unending Heath Ledger stories this year. But physically, psychologically, and acting..ling...ly, Jolie is a natural fit: 5'8", looks amazing in a catsuit, seductive as hell, and she's the best female action movie star in the world. Plus, I'm a Julie Newmar guy when it comes to Catwoman, and Jolie could do that in her sleep. I wouldn't pick her because it's so obvious, but she could definitely take the character to places a Michelle Pfeiffer or a Halle Berry could not. Now last week, people were making all sorts of picks for the role, Angelina among them. But when I heard stuff like Alyssa Milano it kind of made me laugh, because she's less an actor and more a hockey groupie who's been on TV for years. If you're seriously thinking about Catwoman, and you examine the acting chops of the four villains to the point (and while you're at it, the monumental accomplishments of Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman), there aren't too many women who could fill that role as instinctively or as dangerously as Angelina Jolie. So, leaving out the Milanos and Cuthberts of the world for the sake of discussion, who's a better pick for Catwoman than Angelina Jolie?

Comments

[Will]

I'm prolly the only "cat" in town who actually hasn't seen Dark Knight yet. Still...

Nolan's universe seems a little deeper than Jolie as CatWoman, and it is because the well is so deep that it doesn't need her.

[Will]

Then again Colin, every one else in the world IS reporting Johnny Depp as the Mad-Hatter, so your audience is beginning to wonder about the whole skepticism thing...

Working out for you?

[Stooge]

And besides, if they were going to go the whole "Catwoman" route, wouldn't Maggie Gyllenhaal be the better fit?

[Miyamoto]

When we were designing the Wii it quickly became obvious that consumer interest surveys were shit.

[Get The Big Picture]

Will,

I'm just saying it's such a natural decision that it seems too good to be true. I'm not saying it won't happen, just like I never said the Depp thing wouldn't happen. But if not Jolie, then who?

Keep in mind, of course, we don't know if that character will be in the next movie, which makes the rumor more suspect; we kind of know The Mad Hatter will be in an Alice in Wonderland movie.

[Sploich]

I think that's a terrible idea for Catwoman. I say Charlize Theron.

[Michael]

I don't think Catwoman is the best choice for the next villain, but Angelina Jolie would definitely be a great choice to play her. Kate Beckinsale would also be a good one.

[Harry N. House]

In defense:

If Warner DOES go the Catwoman route (and I personally hope they don't) Jolie would probably have to say "no-thanks"...

Why?

1. How many good roles has Eartha Kitt had since playing Catwoman?
2. How many good roles has Pfeifer had since playing the same?
3. How many good roles has Berry had?

I think any actress that thinks she has a few more good roles left in her had better think long and hard about this fact: Catwoman killed more careers than it has saved.

Am I right?