Movies - TV
Annette Bening Was Originally Cast As Catwoman In Tim Burton's Batman Returns
By JOE ROBERTS
When Warner Bros. greenlighted the sequel to Tim Burton’s 1989 smash hit “Batman,” many star actresses of the time were keen to throw their names in the hat for the role of Catwoman. We all know that Michelle Pfeiffer landed the coveted role and set the gold standard for the character, but she actually was not the first choice
to play the anti-heroine.
Pfeiffer told The Hollywood Reporter, "As a young girl, I was completely obsessed with Catwoman. When I heard that Tim [Burton] was making the film and Catwoman had already been cast, I was devastated." At the time, Annette Bening was set to star in the role and production was moving ahead with her on board.
Bening had already gotten the Catwoman mask and costume fitted, but unfortunately she had to drop out because she got pregnant. Pfeiffer was, of course, extremely interested to step into the role and claims she told Burton she would take the role, having read only half the "Batman Returns" script.
Once she'd been confirmed for the role, the actress threw herself into intense preparation, training with a whip and learning kickboxing. Pfeiffer also didn’t let her love for the character get in the way of a nuanced performance and the result was a believable Selina Kyle and a believable Catwoman, which many still consider an untouchable performance.