The Story of BLADE RUNNER Star Sean Young's Unforgettable Bid for Catwoman in BATMAN RETURNS
Blade Runner star Sean Young once made a bold attempt to secure the role of Catwoman in Tim Burton's Batman Returns. While the spectacle she made may have caused a stir at the time, it's fascinating to hear about the experience from Young.
Fresh off her success in Blade Runner and Dune, Young actually landed the role of Vicki Vale in Tim Burton's Batman. Young was on the cusp of superstardom when she landed the role of Vicki Vale in the film and would’ve starred along side Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader. However, fate had other plans for Young. An injury forced her to leave the project, paving the way for Kim Basinger to step into the shoes of Gotham City's intrepid reporter.
Young's passion to land role in a Batman movie didn't wane during her recovery, and she set her sights on an even more iconic character in Batman's rogues' gallery… Catwoman.
In a memorable and somewhat audacious move, Sean Young made an appearance on The Joan Rivers Show dressed as Catwoman. She began her appearance by channeling the campy portrayal of the feline threat from the 1960s Batman TV series. It was a moment that left audiences and industry insiders divided.
Young's decision to don the Catwoman ensemble on national television was met with mixed reactions. Some applauded her for it, while others labeled her actions as unconventional and perhaps even eccentric. If you watch the video, you can clearly see she was having a good time.
Reflecting on the incident in a recent interview with The Spectator, Young shared her perspective on it, saying:
"Honestly, I thought it was funny! I thought it was really, really funny, but these, these insecure dickheads at these studios, they just didn't see the humor. They really didn't. And I did not realize that that they were so humorless. I really didn't. I thought it was absolutely f—king hilarious. I love that video. Of course, I should play Catwoman, and if these guys had had any sense, any time from that point until now, they would have given me the part again because [the controversy], it was so perfect, but they're not really good businessmen ... They're not very intelligent."
Young's candid remarks shed light on her sense of humor. She believed she was the perfect choice for Catwoman, and her unconventional approach was an attempt to showcase her personality in an effort to land it.
In the 90s, various reports and rumors swirled around Young's involvement in Batman Returns. Some claimed she had secured the role but was fired before filming began, while others suggested she was never in the running for the part, but believed she was owed it due to her previous connection to the Batman franchise.
Young's Catwoman stunt in 1991 earned her the label of being "crazy" in the entertainment industry at the time. Despite her success in the '80s, the actress found herself facing challenges in her career following the Joan Rivers appearance, which is a shame. She deserved better.
In the end, Catwoman was portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns, followed by Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises and Zoë Kravitz in The Batman. Each actress brought their own unique flair to the character.
I would have liked to see Young in the role of Catwoman! I think she would’ve brought something very cool and unique to the character. While I loved Pfeiffer’s portrayal, I still can’t help but be curious about what Young would have brought to the table.