Zoë Kravitz Brings a Bi Vibe to Catwoman in 'The Batman'

Zoë Kravitz plays Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman, opposite Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader in the new superhero movie "The Batman."

The Bat and the Cat have struck sparks together on the screen since at least 1992, when Michelle Pfeiffer played the fabulously feline Selina Kyle opposite Michael Keaton's Dark Knight in Tim Burton's "Batman Returns" (and, decades before that, Julie Newmar's Catwoman pined romantically for Adam West's cowled crimefighter in the campy 1960's TV version). Kravitz said she brought an additional erotic element to the new film's Catwoman: A bisexual vibe.

The character is bisexual in the comic books, NBC News noted, but a bi Catwoman on the big screen is something that hasn't been done before.

In comments to Pedestrian, Kravitz said that she had a possible romantic relationship in mind for the character when it came to a female friend named Anika.

Pedestrian recalled a scene in the movie in which Selina Kyle "enters her apartment in search of her mate Anika, and while searching for her, she calls her 'baby', seemingly implying that their relationship is more than platonic."

"But in other scenes throughout the film, she macks on with Batman," the article continued, "and Anika is simply referred to as Selina's 'friend.'"

Kravitz confirmed the moment's hint of bisexuality, telling Pedestrian, "That's definitely the way I interpreted that, that they had some kind of romantic relationship."

In his own comments to Pedestrian, director Matt Reeves explained the conversation he and Kravitz had regarding Anika.

"I spoke to Zoë very early on," Reeves said, "and one of the things she said which I loved was that: 'She's drawn to strays because she was a stray and so she really wants to care for these strays because she doesn't want to be that way anymore, and Anika is like a stray and she loves her.'"

Reeves went on to add, "I don't think we meant to go directly in that way, but you can interpret it that way for sure."

If Kravitz's interpretation is a surprise, then the way in which the possibility Catwoman swings both ways is played down is not; it's too often the case that films bait their LGBTQ+ audience members with fleeting nods to inclusivity that can be glossed over or snipped out. Such was the case when James Bond's gadget guy, Q, played by out actor Ben Whishaw, was depicted as gay in the most recent 007 movie.

Commenting on the throwaway nature of the reveal, Whishaw said, "I remember, perhaps, feeling that was unsatisfying."