Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman Probably Won’t Be in ‘The Batman’ Sequel

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Warning: This story contains spoilers for The Batman and The Penguin.

What a catastrophe! It looks like Catwoman won’t be in the follow-up to The Batman.

According to Variety, Zoe Kravitz likely won’t be back for the sequel to The Batman, The Batman Part II. Sources familiar with the production have indicated she’s not expected to reprise her role in the film starring Robert Pattinson.

At the conclusion of the 2022 movie, the character escaped Gotham quickly on her motorcycle. She also briefly appeared in the HBO series The Penguin through a letter Selina Kyle wrote to her half-sister, Sofia Falcone, after Sofia was returned to Arkham Asylum in the show’s final episode.

It’s unknown whether Zoë Kravitz will reprise her role as Catwoman in a future spin-off series or another The Batman movie, but fans are very concerned about the idea of a sequel without her.

One fan expressed disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), questioning the movie’s appeal without Selina and Sofia. They wrote, “What’s the point of the movie anymore?”

“Don’t [redacted] piss me off @mattreevesLA … I swear to God,” someone else griped.

One fan called the incident “one of the biggest mistakes ever,” while another joked that they wouldn’t be watching anymore.

Scarlett Johansson is reportedly close to joining the upcoming sequel, according to sources at The Hollywood Reporter. Online, fans are excitedly guessing which character she might play, with popular theories including Poison Ivy, Vicki Vale, and Andrea Beaumont (also known as the Phantasm). However, these are just speculations and haven’t been officially confirmed.

The next Batman movie, currently titled The Batman Part II, is planned for release on October 1, 2027. Filming is expected to start in spring 2026.

Every Batman Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

16. Batman (1943)

Directed by Lambert Hillyer and starring Lewis Wilson as Batman, this 1943 serial features Dr. Daka (played by Carrol Naish) as the villain – a Japanese spy. While historically significant as the first live-action Batman and introducing elements like the Batcave, it hasn’t aged well. I consider it one of the worst Batman adaptations ever made – a view I held in 2015 and still maintain. The 15-part serial heavily influenced the campy style of the 1960s Adam West series, but it’s a lengthy, dull, and unfortunately often racist piece of entertainment. If you dislike the George Clooney Batman film, this serial will be a far worse experience.

15. Batman and Robin (1949)

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and starring Robert Lowery as Batman, this film features The Wizard as the villain, who aims to create chaos in Gotham City. It ranks as the 15th best Batman film due to its incredibly low budget—even cheaper looking than the first serial. However, it’s a slight improvement because it avoids the extreme prejudice found in the previous installment, and its sheer incompetence is often unintentionally funny—like a Bat-Signal visible during the day or a Bat-costume that’s more comical than heroic. It begs the question: why do movies with the title Batman and Robin consistently turn out so poorly?

14. Justice League (2017)

Released in 2017, Justice League was directed by Zack Snyder, with Ben Affleck as Batman. The film features Steppenwolf (voiced by Ciaran Hinds) as the villain, an alien who seeks to gather three powerful artifacts called “Mother Boxes” to destroy and reshape Earth. Despite the potential to be a major culmination of interconnected stories, Justice League is considered a low point for the DC cinematic universe. Snyder stepped away from the project during filming, and the version ultimately released—completed by director Joss Whedon—felt disjointed and lacked a cohesive vision. Critics cited messy editing, an inconsistent tone, and a bland, unmemorable villain. Fortunately, Zack Snyder later released his original, complete version of the film on HBO Max.

13. Batman & Robin (1997)

Directed by Joel Schumacher and starring George Clooney as Batman, this film features Uma Thurman as the eco-terrorist Poison Ivy, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the tragically pun-loving Mr. Freeze, and Jeep Swenson as Bane. While widely considered one of the worst Batman movies, it possesses a strange, captivating quality. Despite its flawed production design, over-the-top costumes, and convoluted plotlines, there’s something undeniably memorable—and even occasionally enjoyable—about its sheer weirdness. It’s a bad movie, but one that’s surprisingly hard to turn off or forget.

12. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Directed by Zack Snyder, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice stars Ben Affleck as Batman. The film’s villains are Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg, who aims to turn the world’s heroes against each other, and Doomsday, a genetically engineered creature created from the remains of General Zod and Lex Luthor’s DNA. While Snyder delivers visually stunning action, particularly in the final battle, the film’s story is disjointed. The heroes’ sudden animosity and reconciliation feel forced, the plot is frequently interrupted by promotional dream sequences, and Lex Luthor’s motivations are illogical even for a supervillain. Despite hints of a larger superhero team-up, the film struggles with basic storytelling coherence.

11. Batman Forever (1995)

Directed by Joel Schumacher, Batman Forever stars Val Kilmer as Batman. The film features two villains: Jim Carrey as The Riddler, a former Wayne Enterprises employee who creates a device to steal intelligence, and Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face, a scarred ex-district attorney seeking to eliminate Batman. It currently ranks as the 11th best Batman film because it falls between the darker Tim Burton movies and the campier Batman & Robin, never fully establishing its own unique style. While it has some enjoyable moments and Val Kilmer showed promise as Batman, the over-the-top performances of Carrey and Jones haven’t held up well over time. Unlike the amusingly bad Batman & Robin, these performances are simply irritating. Essentially, Batman Forever is a middle-of-the-road entry in the series – pleasant, but not particularly memorable.

10. Batman (1966)

Directed by Leslie H. Martinson, this film features Adam West as Batman. The villains are a united front of Batman’s greatest enemies: The Joker (played by Cesar Romero), the Riddler (Frank Gorshin), Catwoman (Lee Meriwether), and the Penguin (Burgess Meredith).

Initially, many serious comic book fans disliked the 1960s Batman series, believing it damaged the reputation of comics. For years, people assumed all comics were like the colorful, campy, and silly Adam West version. However, as comic books have become more popular, the series has seen a resurgence, inspiring new comics and animated shows that intentionally capture its playful style. This movie, made between seasons of the TV show, isn’t as ambitious as later Batman films, but it’s full of heart. The action scenes are particularly fun—complete with exaggerated sound effects!

9. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2020)

Released in 2020 and directed by Zack Snyder, Justice League stars Ben Affleck as Batman. The film’s villains are Steppenwolf (voiced by Ciaran Hinds), an alien intent on gathering powerful artifacts called Mother Boxes to destroy and reshape Earth, and Darkseid, who simply opposes Earth and its ideals. This four-hour version of Snyder’s Justice League is a significant improvement over the 2017 theatrical release, though it’s quite lengthy and detailed. A slightly shorter, three-hour cut might have been ideal, but this version remains the best film featuring Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman – a broken hero who rediscovers his humanity and faith in others.

8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale as Batman, The Dark Knight Rises features Tom Hardy as Bane, a powerful and ruthless villain aiming to destroy Batman and incite a revolution in Gotham City. This film is ambitious, large-scale, and concludes Nolan’s Batman trilogy with a complex story of action, conflict, and thought-provoking themes. While it shares with other Batman movies a tendency to include many characters and plotlines – such as Marion Cotillard’s character and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s police officer – it strives for something more than simple entertainment. Even a decade later, some viewers still struggle to understand Tom Hardy’s delivery as Bane. Ultimately, being a challenging and artistic superhero film is a positive quality, and more comic book movies should aim for similar depth.

7. The LEGO Batman Movie

Directed by Chris McKay and starring Will Arnett as Batman, The LEGO Batman Movie features the Joker (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) as the main villain. He teams up with a large group of Batman’s classic enemies to prove he’s a worthy adversary. The film ranks as the 7th best Batman movie because it offers a lighthearted and energetic contrast to the often-dark portrayals of the character. It’s heavily inspired by the vibrant, Pop Art style of the 1960s Batman television show, including characters like Egghead and references to memorable moments like the Bat-Shark Repellent. However, it doesn’t just copy the old show; it updates the campy humor for a modern audience, making it surprisingly fun and cool. The film demonstrates Batman’s incredible range – he can be a symbol for serious themes or the subject of silly jokes, like a villain who throws eggs because of his egg-shaped head. Ultimately, The LEGO Batman Movie perfectly showcases Batman’s versatility.

6. Batman Begins (2005)

Christopher Nolan directed Batman Begins, with Christian Bale as Batman. The villain is Scarecrow, played by Cillian Murphy, a psychiatrist who uses a fear-inducing drug to terrorize people. While some of its impact has been lessened by The Dark Knight, Batman Begins is a crucial film in Batman’s history. It revitalized the franchise after Batman & Robin, proving there was still potential in the character and that a Batman movie could be both intellectually stimulating and visually impressive. Christian Bale’s performance as Batman is considered one of his best – a portrayal that is brooding, humorous, and convincingly strong. Additionally, Liam Neeson offers a unique role as Bruce Wayne’s initial mentor, setting him apart from typical Batman villains.

5. The Batman

Directed by Matt Reeves, The Batman stars Robert Pattinson as the iconic hero. The film’s villain is The Riddler, played by Paul Dano, a serial killer who terrorizes Gotham City with a series of cryptic riddles. This movie ranks #5 because, while other Batman films have been serious, none have explored the character’s meaning for both fans and the people of Gotham as deeply. Reeves thoroughly examines Batman’s motivations and methods, layering the film with themes of surveillance, corruption, and the cyclical nature of revenge. The only drawback is a somewhat messy and drawn-out final act with a couple of unnecessary cliffhangers.

4. Batman Returns (1992)

Tim Burton directed Batman Returns, with Michael Keaton as Batman. The film features two villains: The Penguin, played by Danny DeVito, is a deformed orphan who runs for mayor with the help of a shady businessman (Christopher Walken). Michelle Pfeiffer plays Catwoman, a vengeful thief with a particular fondness for leather and a score to settle with the businessman. This movie ranks fourth because it’s a uniquely strange and ambitious take on the Batman mythos, much like The Dark Knight Rises. It expands on the style of the first Burton Batman film, adding more villains, a darker tone, elaborate gothic sets, and emotionally resonant drama. Keaton, DeVito, and Pfeiffer portray characters who are all damaged and searching for meaning. While considered unusual for a blockbuster, it’s highly entertaining, largely due to Keaton’s strong performance and Pfeiffer’s nuanced portrayal of a complex Catwoman. Many believe Pfeiffer’s Catwoman deserved her own film, a far better idea than the one Halle Berry ultimately received.

3. Batman (1989)

Directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Batman, this film features Jack Nicholson as the Joker – a criminal who becomes a dangerously unhinged crime lord after falling into a chemical vat. It’s ranked #3 because its impact on superhero movies and popular culture was massive. More than even the 1978 Superman, Burton’s Batman transformed how Hollywood viewed superheroes, proving they could be both commercially successful and artistically significant. It influenced everything from the style of Batman comics and cartoons to music (with songs by Prince and a score by Danny Elfman) and even fashion. It truly redefined the genre, creating a clear dividing line in comic-book movie history: before and after Tim Burton’s Batman. I’ve been lucky enough to experience the ‘After Tim Burton Batman’ era for most of my life.

2. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm, with Kevin Conroy as the voice of Batman, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm features two compelling villains: Phantasm, a mysterious figure targeting Gotham’s mob bosses, and the Joker, voiced by Mark Hamill, who finds himself caught in the conflict between Batman and Phantasm. This film is ranked second because it brilliantly demonstrated that animation is a perfect fit for Batman, even before The LEGO Batman Movie. Created by the team behind Batman: The Animated Series, Mask of the Phantasm captures everything that made the series great – stunning visuals, smooth animation, and memorable voice acting – in a concise 75-minute film. Unlike many lengthy Batman movies, Mask of the Phantasm is streamlined and focused, resembling a well-crafted comic book. The tragic love story between Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy, considered by many to be the definitive Batman voice) and Andrea Beaumont (Dana Delany) is as captivating as Bruce’s relationship with Selina Kyle in Batman Returns, and the film’s central mystery is genuinely surprising if you avoid spoilers. Over 25 years later, the film remains visually striking, thanks to its timeless art style – a unique blend of Art Deco and futuristic design that felt unique even in 1993.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan directed The Dark Knight, with Christian Bale as Batman. The film features Heath Ledger as the Joker, a chaotic and enigmatic villain, and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, the district attorney who descends into madness after a personal tragedy and disfiguring injury. The Dark Knight tops the list because it dared to reimagine the Joker after Jack Nicholson’s iconic portrayal, and Heath Ledger’s performance was legendary. Beyond the intense action and stunning IMAX visuals, the film stands out for its thought-provoking exploration of heroism and villainy. It’s a benchmark for all future Batman movies—and may remain the definitive version forever.

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2025-12-04 07:59