Leading Ladies Vie for Female Lead in 'Dark Knight Rises'

UPDATE: Warner Bros. announced Wednesday (Jan. 19) that the much-coveted role of Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises has gone to Anne Hathaway. What do you think of this casting decision?

By Michael Lopez

We don't know much about Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, but we do know that a few of Hollywood's leading ladies have tried out for a top-secret female role. Could Nolan's third Batman film feature Catwoman as the caped crusader's nemesis?

According to the gossip blogs, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel and Keira Knightley have already tried out for the mysterious part.

Since her creation more than 70 years ago, Catwoman (aka Selina Kyle) has been one of the Batman's most popular enemies. And though each of those actresses would be a great choice, I can think of a few others who are just as well-suited to play Batman’s feline foe.

Odette Yustman: Already a favorite with the Comic-Con crowd, Odette (who is half-Cuban) attracted tons of attention for her role opposite the Cloverfield monster. She’s also proven herself to be a great romantic lead on such shows as Brothers & Sisters. Plus, at 5’9”, she could easily stand up to the brooding presence of Christian Bale.

Zoe Saldana: Had a chance to check out those Colombiana pics yet? If so, you know Zoe’s got the potential to be a major action star. One of the things that’s so appealing about Catwoman is her ability to kick major butt while maintaining her sensuality. We think Zoe’s sensitive-yet-tough demeanor would make a great addition to the film.

Morena Baccarin: V star Morena Baccarin seems primed for a movie career and The Dark Knight Rises would be the perfect vehicle to launch it. Tall and fit, this Brazilian-born beauty already has plenty of experience playing a villain. And her cropped haircut would easily fit under Selena Kyle’s kitty mask.

Rosario Dawson: Honestly, Rosario Dawson deserves this role. She’s been working steadily in Hollywood for more than 15 years now, but still hasn’t realized her full box office potential. Whether it’s singing her lungs out in Rent, bringing you to tears in Seven Pounds or smashing up bad guys in Grindhouse, Dawson is literally overflowing with talent. Why not give her the chance to show it off to the millions of Batman fans waiting to buy tickets for The Dark Knight Rises?

Who do you think would make the best Catwoman? Comment below or @MTV3.

Tags Batman, Catwoman, Morena Baccarin, Movies, Odette Yustman, Rosario Dawson, The Dark Knight Rises, Zoe Saldana