The Unexpected Miss of Pfeiffer’s Solo Catwoman
Imagine this: A solo Catwoman film starring Michelle Pfeiffer! There was a time, back in the early 90s, when that nearly happened. Pfeiffer’s striking portrayal of Catwoman in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns got everyone chatting. Fans were expecting a solo Catwoman movie. A script was even in the works! Unfortunately, the project didn’t take off. Why? Warner Bros. who was supposed to produce it, lost interest.
The Dismal Performance of a New Catwoman
Fast forward a bit, and Warner Bros. decides to bring Catwoman back. This time, with Halle Berry in the suit. The result? Not exactly a cat’s meow. The movie tanked, both critically and financially. Things were so bad, poor Berry even got a Razzie Award for her role in the film.
Behind the Scenes Struggle
The failure of the film isn’t a mystery. When Warner Bros. couldn’t reel Pfeiffer back as Selina Kyle (Catwoman’s alter-ego), things got jumbled up. The creative team was clearly confused about the story’s direction. Without a clear vision, they stitched together a backstory for Catwoman that was less than dazzling.
As revealed by screenwriter John Rogers, the script was a hodgepodge of ideas. There was a scene where Catwoman crashes through a department store window, followed by an awkward speech on body image. Topics like “the domestic labor of housewives” and obscure bioweapon themes found their way into the script. Her career oscillated between a vet and a graphic designer. Eventually, the storyline circled around evil makeup.
The Promising Forgotten Script
In 1995, Tim Burton and Daniel Waters had written an exciting script for Pfeiffer’s Catwoman. That same year, Batman Forever was released. Although Batman Forever wasn’t well-received by critics, it made some serious cash. Maybe that’s why Warner Bros. ditched Burton’s version of Catwoman.
Instead, they cast Halle Berry as a new character, Patience Phillips, who was nowhere in the original comic series. Thinking back, Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle might have shaped the Catwoman franchise differently.
The Takeaway
From this saga, one thing is clear: When making a big-screen movie like Catwoman, keeping to the character’s essence and storyline is key. The makers lost sight of what fans wanted from a Catwoman movie. They sacrificed creativity leading to a mix-up of a movie.
The Future of Catwoman
Will Catwoman ever get a successful solo movie that sticks to her comic origins? Only time will tell. For now, Catwoman lovers can still enjoy Halle Berry’s version on Netflix. Despite its flaws, it offers a unique perspective on the iconic character.
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