Zoe Kravitz Was Told She Was Too 'Urban' to Audition for 'Dark Knight Rises'

[RandySF]

Before Zoë Kravitz sunk her claws into Catwoman for Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” the actress said she was told she didn’t have the right look for a role in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises” due to her skin color.

After attempting to audition for the film back in 2012, she was told she was too “urban” to star in the movie.

“I don’t know if it came directly from Chris Nolan,” Kravitz recently told The Guardian. “I think it was probably a casting director of some kind, or a casting director’s assistant.”

Kravitz, who is of Black and Jewish descent, added, “Being a woman of color and being an actor and being told at that time that I wasn’t able to read because of the color of my skin, and the word ‘urban’ being thrown around like that, that was what was really hard about that moment.”

The “High Fidelity” star currently plays Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) opposite Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne. Kravitz’s Catwoman also identifies as bisexual, per Kravitz’s interpretation of the role. She also worked with writer-director Reeves to make Selina a three-dimensional character with her own life outside of the “Batman” storyline.




https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/zoe-kravitz-too-urban-audition-dark-knight-rises-1234705317/

[frazzled]

1. Isn't Gotham City urban?

Seems like it would e been a perfect fit.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. "too urban" seems like a racist dogwhistle. I had to read the article, since "urban" mystified me.nt

[frazzled]

5. How can you be too urban for an urban location

That was my point. Of course it was a big, racist dog whistle ... because it’s entirely illogical for the context of the film.

[exboyfil]

2. Seems like she got a much better movie at least

The Dark Knight Rises isn't very good (well at least compared to the first two Nolan movies). Anne Hathaway didn't bring much to the role, but a lot of that was substandard writing. I haven't seen this movie yet (I am waiting for my daughter's work schedule to clear), but I am very much looking forward to it and Ms. Kravitz's performance.

Funny that being African American is considered too urban given the number of African Americans who actually do live in rural areas.

[llashram]

4. "urban"???

I so hate, hate amerikkkan racism, the stupid ignorance in their dog whistles and the 60million who voted for the 21st-century puppet of the Russian Hitler and who tried a coup d'etat for that Russian Hitler and his puppet...

[jmowreader]

6. So they couldn't tell her the real reason

I checked the IMDB pages for both actresses.

Zoe Kravitz had been in one big film before The Dark Knight Rises started production, X-Men: First Class.

Anne Hathaway had been in both Princess Diaries films, Brokeback Mountain, Love and Other Drugs and The Devil Wears Prada.

I guess “you’re too urban for a film shot in a huge city” sounded better to them than “we won’t make any money off you.”

[RandySF]

7. It was the conclusion of the NolanDar Knight trilogy.

It would have made the money without Hathaway.

[exboyfil]

8. Which is weird

Telling her she wasn't an A lister wouldn't have been racist, and, as you indicate, makes a better truth.

I think it was in her best interest to not have been in The Dark Knight Rises. It wasn't a very good movie, and Hathaway didn't bring much to the role (probably mostly due to the writing).

Nolan is a great action director, but his movies are overrated. He doesn't seem to do too well with female characters. I consider Rises a missed opportunity to make one of the best trilogies of all time.

[Bleacher Creature]

9. Their loss - she was phenomenal in The Batman!

[exboyfil]

10. Sounds like lots of performances blow up the screen in that movie

I am very excited about seeing it. Just waiting for my daughter's work schedule to clear.

[abqtommy]

11. Black and Jewish, really? ALL of the Ethiopian Jews are Black. You go, Zoe!

The first time I tried to post this reply I got a "403 Forbidden", re-booted my browser and
that fixed it.

[area51]

12. Here's someone else

who was told they were very urban.

[avebury]

13. I loved her in Batman.

She did a great job and I would love to see her in more movies.