Zoe Kravitz to star as Catwoman in the upcoming 'Batman' movie

Actor Zoe Kravitz has landed the part of Selina Kyle aka Catwoman in Matt Reeves'' upcoming DC superhero project "The Batman". The 30-year-old actor, best known for "Big Little Lies", "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Fantastic Beasts" series, beat out the likes of Zazie Beetz, Eiza Gonzalez, and Alicia Vikander to bag the coveted role, reported Variety. Robert Pattinson is toplining the cast as the popular DC Comics superhero, with actor Jeffrey Wright set to portray his ally, Commissioner Gordon.

Before Kravitz, the antiheroine and sometime love interest of the Caped Crusader have been portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer ("Batman Returns", 1992) , Halle Berry ("Catwoman", 2004) and Anne Hathaway ("The Dark Knight Rises", 2012). The film is being billed as a grounded take on the Dark Knight and will feature many of Batman villains. Reeves is directing the Warner Bros/DC film from his own script. He is also attached to produce with Dylan Clark. "The Batman" will hit the theatres on June 25, 2021.

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Affleck departs from DC

Ben Affleck has explained his decision to depart from the DC Extended Universe, saying he could not "crack" the idea for his solo Batman film. The 46-year-old actor first starred as the caped crusader Batman in Zack Snyder's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and then followed it up with "Justice League". He also made a cameo appearance as Batman in David Ayer's 2016 dud "Suicide Squad". He was set to once again play the character in a solo Batman film to be directed by Matt Reeves, the man behind two films of Andy Serkis' successful "Planet of the Apes" trilogy.

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However, it was announced last month that Affleck would not return for the project, which will hit the theatres in June 2021. Appearing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live", the actor said, "I tried to direct a version of it and worked with a really good screenwriter, but just couldn't come up with a version, I couldn't crack it."

"So I thought it was time to let someone else take a shot at it. They got some really good people, so I'm excited," he added.

It was in January 2017 that Reeves was first tasked with taking over directing duties from Affleck and has been developing the film since then. Reeves is writing and directing the new movie and he will also choose the next Bruce Wayne aka Batman. Affleck will be next seen in Netflix's "Triple Frontier", which also stars Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal. 

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