Anne Hathaway has been hired to play Catwoman in Christopher Nolan's forthcoming film "The Dark Knight Rises," the director announced Tuesday. She will star with Christian Bale and Tom Hardy in Nolan's third "Batman" installment, which is slated for release in July 2012.
Sources say Nolan considered casting Keira Knightley or Jessica Biel in the role, but settled on Hathaway after weeks of screen tests.
Hathaway joins an impressive list of women who have played the feline whip-slinger on screens big and small.
Originating the role on television, Julie Newmar was Catwoman from 1966 to 1967 on the "Batman" series.
Lee Meriwether donned the slinky suit in a 1966 "Batman" feature film.
Eartha Kitt replaced Newmar on the "Batman" series.
Michelle Pfeiffer starred as a kickboxing Catwoman in Tim Burton's 1992 film "Batman Returns."
A 2004 film spinoff called "Catwoman" flopped and star Halle Berry's performance was widely panned. She even "won" a Razzie Award for Worst Actress in a Leading Role.
Hathaway has some experience playing a beloved character, having reprised Barbara Feldon's role as Agent 99 in a 2008 film adaptation of "Get Smart." Playing someone who was "suave, together and cool" was exciting, Hathaway said, because in real life she "will laugh at anything... and I fall down quite a bit."
Let's hope director Nolan brings out her sure-footed side.
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