Cats (2019, D: Tom Hooper) S: Swift, McKellen, Corden, Hudson, Dench, Elba
05-06-16, 09:25 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Cats (2019, D: Tom Hooper) S: Swift, McKellen, Corden, Hudson, Dench, Elba
Tom Hooper will direct and produce a movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Cats” for Universal and Working Title.
Producers are Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner for Working Title along with Debra Hayward and Hooper.
Hooper teamed with Universal and Working Title for the 2012 movie adaptation of “Les Miserables,” starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried. The film was a box office success with $440 million worldwide and critical triumph with three Academy Awards, including Hathaway for best supporting actress.
The musical “Cats” is based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry collection “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” and centers on a tribe of cats called the Jellicles who must decide nightly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. The show was first performed in London in 1981 and ran on Broadway from 1987 to 2006.
Hooper won the best directing Oscar for “The King’s Speech” in 2010. He directed “The Danish Girl” last year for Universal and Working Title.
The Sun first reported in February that Hooper was in talks to direct a “Cats” movie and was seeking Suki Waterhouse to star.
Hooper is represented by ICM Partners and Independent Talent Group.
Producers are Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner for Working Title along with Debra Hayward and Hooper.
Hooper teamed with Universal and Working Title for the 2012 movie adaptation of “Les Miserables,” starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried. The film was a box office success with $440 million worldwide and critical triumph with three Academy Awards, including Hathaway for best supporting actress.
The musical “Cats” is based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry collection “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” and centers on a tribe of cats called the Jellicles who must decide nightly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. The show was first performed in London in 1981 and ran on Broadway from 1987 to 2006.
Hooper won the best directing Oscar for “The King’s Speech” in 2010. He directed “The Danish Girl” last year for Universal and Working Title.
The Sun first reported in February that Hooper was in talks to direct a “Cats” movie and was seeking Suki Waterhouse to star.
Hooper is represented by ICM Partners and Independent Talent Group.
05-06-16, 10:15 AM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
I'm curious as to how they'll do this. People in cat costumes won't work in a movie, so I would think that the characters at least would be animated, if not the whole film.
05-06-16, 10:22 AM
#3
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Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
The funny thing is if they do go for live action, there's an adequate Cats-on-stage film already. I haven't seen it in years so I don't recall how good it looks, but the DVD is 1.78/5.1 at least. If they're hoping for Les Mis box office, I don't think Cats has the same following, nor will it have as appealing a cast since they'll be looking for dancers instead of singers, other than Grizabella, of course.
Not my favorite show, but it's entertaining for what it is, so I'd probably see it in theaters.
Not my favorite show, but it's entertaining for what it is, so I'd probably see it in theaters.
05-06-16, 10:37 AM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
The funny thing is if they do go for live action, there's an adequate Cats-on-stage film already. I haven't seen it in years so I don't recall how good it looks, but the DVD is 1.78/5.1 at least. If they're hoping for Les Mis box office, I don't think Cats has the same following, nor will it have as appealing a cast since they'll be looking for dancers instead of singers, other than Grizabella, of course.
I can see them going for Meryl Streep as Grizabella.
05-06-16, 10:46 AM
#5
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Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
The existing version is fine for what it is, which is a filmed stage performance, but they'll have to go a more "realistic" route for the movie (assuming it's live action). They can motion capture dancers but use known actors for the voices.
I can see them going for Meryl Streep as Grizabella.
I can see them going for Meryl Streep as Grizabella.
And I agree Streep would be on their short list.
05-06-16, 10:52 AM
#6
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Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
I don't know if true, but someone commented in the article that Meryl Streep was about to sign on and it'll all be mocap.
05-06-16, 12:37 PM
#7
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
What's funny is so many years ago in the movie adaptation of "Six Degrees of Separation", Stockard Channing is talking about how they struggled for years with how to make a movie adaptation of "Cats", and then the solution dawned on them .... but she never reveals what that solution is. 
Finally, we get to find out, I suppose.
Finally, we get to find out, I suppose.
05-07-16, 11:38 PM
#9
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05-08-16, 12:12 AM
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
Ah, the first film to attempt to capitalize on Jungle Book's success.
05-08-16, 10:51 AM
#11
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
I have never been as bored in a play than with Cats. Memory was amplified and ear piercingly loud. And just when I think it is over they are on some fucking ship singing in fucking esperanto. It was the day I realized that the "theater" crowd and me just don't align at all.
05-08-16, 02:46 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
They definitely need to take the Jungle Book approach with this, no way people in leotards will make it on the big screen. Let me go ahead and say they need to get Idina Menzel to voice Grizabella.
05-08-16, 02:48 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
I have never been as bored in a play than with Cats. Memory was amplified and ear piercingly loud. And just when I think it is over they are on some fucking ship singing in fucking esperanto. It was the day I realized that the "theater" crowd and me just don't align at all.
05-08-16, 03:12 PM
#14
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
Too bad the version Sidney Poitier was going to direct back in the 90's never got made.
05-08-16, 03:46 PM
#15
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” (D: Tom Hooper)
Is it though?
06-13-18, 05:55 PM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Cats (D: Tom Hooper) S: Swift, McKellen, Corden, Hudson
EXCLUSIVE: Anne Hathaway In Talks To Star In Universal’s CATS
http://thathashtagshow.com/2018/06/e...iversals-cats/
A big screen adaptation of the hit musical Cats has been pitched for many years. Back in 2016 it was announced that Universal Pictures won the rights for the film with Academy Award winning director Tom Hopper (Les Miserables) set to direct, from a script by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot). Since then it has been pretty quiet on all the updates, but now we have some news that may intrigue you.
According to our sources Anne Hathaway is in talks to star in a currently unknown role. The studio is also looking at Rihanna for the role of Bombalurina a key character featured in the musical, but as of now its only interest, and no formal talks have taken place.
The film is expected to begin production sometime in September in London. It is not known if the film will use full CGI or with a mix of live-action as previous reported.
If Hathaway and Rihanna both sign on this would be the second time they would star in a feature together, they star in Ocean’s 8 out June 8. Hathaway saw success under director Tom Hooper, as she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Fantine in Les Miserables.
Cats is based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. First performed in the West End in 1981, the musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles who must decide which one of them will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.
According to our sources Anne Hathaway is in talks to star in a currently unknown role. The studio is also looking at Rihanna for the role of Bombalurina a key character featured in the musical, but as of now its only interest, and no formal talks have taken place.
The film is expected to begin production sometime in September in London. It is not known if the film will use full CGI or with a mix of live-action as previous reported.
If Hathaway and Rihanna both sign on this would be the second time they would star in a feature together, they star in Ocean’s 8 out June 8. Hathaway saw success under director Tom Hooper, as she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Fantine in Les Miserables.
Cats is based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. First performed in the West End in 1981, the musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles who must decide which one of them will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.
06-13-18, 06:35 PM
#18
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re: Cats (2019, D: Tom Hooper) S: Swift, McKellen, Corden, Hudson, Dench, Elba
Last edited by dex14; 06-13-18 at 06:44 PM.
06-13-18, 06:54 PM
#19
DVD Talk Hero
re: Cats (2019, D: Tom Hooper) S: Swift, McKellen, Corden, Hudson, Dench, Elba
Remember when everyone started hating Anne Hathaway when Les Miserables was released? I guess she didn’t learn her lesson the first time... 
06-13-18, 07:10 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
re: Cats (2019, D: Tom Hooper) S: Swift, McKellen, Corden, Hudson, Dench, Elba
06-13-18, 07:29 PM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
re: Cats (2019, D: Tom Hooper) S: Swift, McKellen, Corden, Hudson, Dench, Elba
Hathaway will probably be Grizabella . Interested to see how they will do this, as people in outfits most likely won't work on the screen.
06-13-18, 08:01 PM
#25
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: Cats (2019, D: Tom Hooper) S: Swift, McKellen, Corden, Hudson, Dench, Elba
Wasn't it Six Degrees of Separation where they kept talking about how they figured out how to film a live action version of Cats that works, but they never actually explained it.