Universal shared a behind-the-scenes video for Tom Hooper’s upcoming film adaptation of the broadway musical Cats that also teases a trailer release for this Friday. Universal, alongside production company Working Title, teamed up to bring this adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-running and wildly-successful Broadway musical to the big screen, and not long after it was announced, it filled out with an all-star cast as well. Taylor Swift was one of the first announced for the film, with Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Jason Derulo, Rebel Wilson, and Judi Dench following suit in playing key roles alongside Swift.
Previously, the film’s director, Hooper, had tackled another film adaptation for a different, incredibly popular musical, Les Misérables. The movie musical proved to be a success for Hooper, even going on to win 3 Oscars in 2013 along with garnering a nomination for Best Motion Picture. Because of this, his attachment to Cats was one that gave fans of the original production hope that his adaptation would do the musical justice. Since its initial announcement, details have been kept under lock and key. The film has been in production since last December, having just wrapped this past April, and is set to hit theaters this December around the Holidays. Now, it looks like Universal is prepping their marketing run with plenty of zeal.
Universal shared a behind-the-scenes video for the film, showcasing the grandiose set design meant to bring its viewer down to the feline perspective. It showcases a few of the actors expressing their love of the original Broadway show, and performance in general. At one point, Hooper comes on and explains, “at the center of this incredibly entertaining, comedic, fantastical musical, is a very timely story about the importance of inclusion and redemption.” Check out the full video below:
Since its debut in 1982, Cats has gone on to become one of the longest-running, and most successful, musicals of all time. Its adaptation is coming at a perfect time in pop culture, with triumphant original musicals like La La Land or The Greatest Showman finding their own loving and dedicated audiences, and even adaptations like Into the Woods, Mamma Mia, and Hooper’s Les Mis found massive amounts of success in their respective theater runs. It’s hardly the last Broadway production to get a film adaptation, either, as Universal’s other musical adaptation of the popular Broadway show Wicked is slated for a 2021 release later down the line.
Hopefully, Friday’s trailer will showcase something truly remarkable that will skyrocket viewer’s expectations through the roof. Considering the number of people that are skeptical as to how Hooper and his team are going to make the actors not look cheesy while telling a captivating story, they’re carrying a lot on their shoulders. Fans of the original Broadway musical can only hope that the actors involved aren’t just blowing smoke, and that it’ll actually be as incredible as they’re claiming. And, with the success of previous Broadway adaptations, and even original movie-musicals, Cats could actually turn out to be another fun and exciting movie-musical to add to the already impressive bunch.
Next: Everything We Know About The Cats Musical Movie
Source: Universal
- Cats Release Date: 2019-12-20
