When Halle Berry took on the role of Catwoman in 2004, it seemed that the combination of Oscar-winning actress and fan-favorite DC villain was destined to bring in bucket-loads of cash for Warner Bros. However, when the critics got their claws out and box office numbers made a purr rather than a roar, the movie headed straight for the litter tray. Catwoman would become best known for being one of those rare superhero outings that lost money, bringing in just $82 million against the $100 million budget, and of course being the winner of four Golden Raspberry awards including one for Halle Berry herself who famously turned up to accept the dubious honor in person with her Oscar in tow. Now in a new interview, Berry has cited the movie as one she would love to revisit in a new way.
“I would love to direct Catwoman,” she revealed in an interview for Jake’s Takes. “If I can get ahold of that now, knowing what I know, having this experience and reimagine that world the way I reimagined this story. Bruise was written for a white Irish catholic, like 25-year-old girl. I got to reimagine it. I wish I could go back and reimagine Catwoman and have a re-do on that.”
“I would have Catwoman saving the world like most male superheroes do, and not just saving women from their faces cracking off. You know, I would make the stakes a lot higher. I think make it more inclusive of both men and women.”
Of course when Catwoman came out, the story was not the regular comic book-based take on the character, with Berry’s anti-heroine Patience Phillips – breaking away from the Selina Kyle of the main Batman universe – taking on the cosmetics company she works for when she discovers they are using a product capable of causing health issues across the world. After being killed by those she is trying to expose, Phillips is brought back to life by Egyptian cats that give her cat-like abilities and enable her to pursue her killers. Even with an all-star cast including Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt and Alex Borstein – better known as the voice of Lois Griffin in Family Guy – that storyline just proved too far from regular superhero territory to be instantly taken to by fans.
In other interviews, Halle Berry has stated that she always thought the approach to the movie was a little wrong, and something that she attempted to question at the time. “The story didn’t feel quite right,” Berry said in an interview with Variety. “I remember having that argument: ‘Why can’t Catwoman save the world like Batman and Superman do? Why is she just saving women from a face cream that cracks their face off?’ But I was just the actor for hire. I wasn’t the director. I had very little say over that.”
However, in the years since the film’s release, like many box office bombs it has developed its own cult following, which saw many fans celebrating the film on its recent anniversary. That in turn led to Berry making a comment on the back of a fan’s Twitter post, asking where all their love for the movie was 17 years ago when Catwoman was released. Whether we will see Berry get behind the camera to direct a new Catwoman adventure is something that only time will tell, but with superheroes in vogue and Catwoman getting a host of attention in animated shows, it could be time for the Gotham kitty to roar again.
Source: movieweb.com