Naya Riverawas excited to sink her claws intoCatwoman, her final film rolebefore her death.
On Monday,Entertainment Tonightreleased behind-the-scenes footage of Rivera recording her lines as an animated version of the Gotham City villainess forBatman: The Long Halloween, Part One.
“Obviously there’s a special significance for portraying Catwoman,” theGleealum said, before footage played that showed her recording her lines and viewers were given a preview of the film, which was released Tuesday.
Rivera joins a long line of women who have portrayed Catwoman, a.k.a Selina Kyle, onscreen — includingEartha Kitt,Julie Newmar,Michelle Pfeiffer,Halle BerryandAnne Hathawayin live action, andZoë Kravitz,Jennifer MorrisonandEliza Dushkuin voice roles.
“Every actress that I’ve ever loved has played Catwoman in some shape or form,” Rivera toldET. “And I’mhonored I get to play [her]for this movie.”
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Naya Rivera (L); Catwoman.
Naya Rivera recording her lines as Catwoman.
The movie sees Batman on track to solving a string of murders in Gotham City. As his path crosses with Catwoman’s, he can be heard asking, “Why are you running?” Rivera’s character replies, “You could use a little fun.”
The voice cast of the film also includesJosh Duhamelas Harvey Dent, Billy Burke as James Gordon, David Dastmalchian as Calendar Man, Troy Baker as the Joker,Jack Quaidas Alberto,Amy Landeckeras Barbara Gordon andTitus Welliveras Carmine Falcone.
This will mark Rivera’s last project, as she wasn’t in production on any other titles before her death. The actressdied in July 2020as aresult of a drowning accidentafter she and her sonJosey, now 5, rented a boat at Lake Piru in Southern California.
Naya Rivera.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
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Josey, who was 4 at the time, had been found asleep on the boat as it drifted on thewaters of Lake Piruafter his mother failed to return it. And Rivera — who rose to fame playing the outspoken, gay cheerleader Santana Lopez on Fox’s musical comedy seriesGlee—was missing.
“It’s still pretty much a big blur of pain almost a year later,” the star’s father,George Rivera, told PEOPLEearlier this month, fighting back tears. “Things are slowly coming a little more into focus, but I don’t know if I’ll ever find closure from this. I miss her every day.”
The Long Halloweenis a two-part film, with the first part available now on digital and Blu-ray.
source: people.com
