Anne Hathaway cast as Catwoman in new "Batman" movie

Anne Hathaway -- of "Devil Wears Prada" fame -- wins the sexy, lead lady role in Christopher Nolan's next "Batman"

Published January 19, 2011 6:20PM (EST)

FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2010 file photo, actress Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of "Love and Other Drugs" at the Directors Guild Theater in New York. Hathaway and actor James Franco will serve as co-hosts of the 83rd Academy Awards on Feb. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)  (AP)
FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2010 file photo, actress Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of "Love and Other Drugs" at the Directors Guild Theater in New York. Hathaway and actor James Franco will serve as co-hosts of the 83rd Academy Awards on Feb. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file) (AP)

Hold on to your capes: Anne Hathaway will be the new Catwoman in Christopher Nolan's "Batman" series. According to a press release from Warner Brothers, Hathaway will play Selina Kyle, the real life persona of the leather-clad minx loved by adolescent boys, middle-aged stock brokers, free-spirited housewives, and -- well -- pretty much everyone else. The official press release for the new film, "The Dark Knight Rises," falls short of mentioning the character name "Catwoman," so it's likely we'll be seeing Selina Kyle's backstory and sultry descent into her feline alter ego.

In related casting news, bi-curious icon Tom Hardy will play Bane, the chemically jacked up archrival of Batman. You might remember that awful moment when Bane who broke Batman over his knee like a dry twig. (Insert Major League Baseball joke here.) Christian Bale will return as Bruce Wayne slash Batman.


By Adam Clark Estes

Adam Clark Estes blogs the news for Salon. Email him at ace@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @adamclarkestes

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Christopher Nolan