Universal Pictures has let another trailer for CATS out of the bag, and nothing, I mean nothing, can prepare you for all the feline frivolity that ensues. The upcoming musical based on the award-winning musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber is about to get its first feature film adaptation thanks to Tom Hooper (LES MISÉRABLES), and I don't know whether I should be grateful or claw the filmmaker's eyes out for unleashing hell upon us all this holiday season.
I kid of course, as there's plenty of room amidst the entertainment spectrum for felines that are feeling foot loose and fancy free. Their high on catnip hijinks might not be for me, but Broadway theater enthusiasts are bound to be purring at the thought of one of the most celebrated musicals coming to life on the big screen. CATS stars James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson, and introduces Royal Ballet principal dancer Francesca Hayward in her first feature-length film role.
The newest trailer for Hooper's adaptation shows us more of what you'd expect: Fancy Feast-inspired freestyle dancing, too cool for school tomcats on the prowl, and magnificent mousers ready to sacrifice all nine of their lives to Bastet for the chance at a better life. Soon it will be time to sharpen your claws and let the fur fly when CATS pads its way into theaters this December.
The official synopsis for CATS:
Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Les Misérables, The Danish Girl) transforms Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-shattering stage musical into a breakthrough cinematic event. Featuring Lloyd Webber’s iconic music and a world-class cast of dancers under the guidance of Tony-winning choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, In the Heights), the film reimagines the musical for a new generation with spectacular production design, state-of-the-art technology, and dance styles ranging from ballet to contemporary, hip-hop to jazz, street to tap.
Universal Pictures presents a Working Title Films and Amblin Entertainment production, in association with Monumental Pictures and The Really Useful Group. Cats is produced by Debra Hayward, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Tom Hooper. The screenplay is by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot, Rocketman) and Hooper, based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot and the stage musical by Lloyd Webber. Cats is executive produced by Lloyd Webber, Steven Spielberg, Angela Morrison and Jo Burn.
One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, the stage musical “Cats” received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 years and earned the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983, the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for an extraordinary 18 years. Since opening in London in 1981, “Cats” has continuously appeared on stage around the globe, to date having played to 81 million people in more than fifty countries and in nineteen languages. It is regarded as one of the most successful musicals of all time.
CATS will prowl into theaters on December 20, 2019.