Why Halle Berry’s Catwoman Failed: Pitof’s Take

Halle Berry’s Catwoman movie has been a topic of debate since it was released. Fans didn’t like it, and critics gave it bad reviews. Now twenty years later, the director Pitof shares his thoughts on why the movie failed.

The Script Wasn’t Ready

In a recent interview, Pitof said the main problem with Catwoman was the script. It wasn’t finished when filming started, which caused a lot of issues later on. Because the script kept changing, the movie didn’t come together as it should have when they were editing it.

“After we shot the movie, it didn’t work because so much had changed,” Pitof explained. “The pieces didn’t fit together.”

Production Problems and Last-Minute Fixes

Pitof also talked about how chaotic the production was. The team had to keep re-editing scenes, adding new ones, and even did a 10-day reshoot just a month before the movie was supposed to come out. Pitof never got the chance to make a director’s cut and had to rush to fix things.

“The problem was the script,” Pitof emphasized, pointing out how it was rewritten multiple times during filming and even while editing.

Halle Berry Took the Blame—Unfairly

When Catwoman came out, Halle Berry received a lot of criticism for her role. She was even nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actress in 2005. But Pitof believes the criticism wasn’t fair. He thinks the real issue was the unpolished script, not Berry’s performance.

“It’s unfair for her and everyone involved,” Pitof said. “We put so much passion into it, and then people were harsh in their judgment.“

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How Catwoman Changed Over Time

Initially, Catwoman was planned to be a standalone movie focused on Michelle Pfeiffer’s character in Batman Returns. However, once Pfeiffer departed from the film, it transformed into an origin tale for a fresh character named Patience Phillips, portrayed by Halle Berry. Regrettably, the script underwent numerous revisions and ultimately deviated drastically from the initial concept.

“The movie you see on screen is nothing like the original concept,” Pitof admitted.

Challenges of Making a Female-Led Superhero Movie

Warner Bros. had to choose between making Catwoman or Wonder Woman, and they picked Catwoman. However, screenwriter John Rogers said there was resistance to female-led superhero stories at the time, which affected the movie’s development.

“People couldn’t accept another image of a female superhero,” Rogers explained.

The Controversial Catwoman Costume

Halle Berry’s costume in Catwoman was one of the most talked-about aspects of the movie. Pitof wanted a more revealing and wild look compared to the costume worn by Michelle Pfeiffer. However, when the first images of Berry in costume were released, fans had mixed reactions.

“She looked like a bronze goddess,” said Berry’s makeup artist, but the reveal didn’t go over well with everyone.

Production Problems Behind the Scenes

The movie faced many challenges during production. The script kept changing, and there were disagreements about how the movie should turn out. Screenwriter John Rogers eventually left the project, and the movie struggled to find its direction.

“They were having problems and rewriting on set,” Rogers remembered, showing how difficult the production was.

A Missed Opportunity

Despite its potential, Catwoman ended up being a box office flop. With a budget of $100 million, it only made $82 million. The troubled production and unfinished script were major factors in the movie’s failure. Looking back, Pitof believes audiences weren’t ready for a female-led superhero movie at the time, but he’s still proud of the effort that went into it.

“People weren’t ready for a female hero,” Pitof said.