Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden and Ian McKellen are set to star in the film, to be directed by Tom Hooper and telling the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make what is known as "the Jellicle choice" and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.

McKellen would make a great Gus, but they might have him as Deuteronomy.

Idris Elba Joins Taylor Swift in ‘Cats’ Movie Adaptation
By JUSTIN KROLL

Idris Elba is in final negotiations to join the film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Cats.”

Tom Hooper will direct the star-studded movie, also starring Ian McKellen, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, and Taylor Swift.

This marks Elba’s second feline role following his take on Shere Khan in 2016’s “The Jungle Book.”

The Universal Pictures epic, which hits theaters on Dec. 20, will be produced by Hooper and Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, as well as fellow “Les Misérables” producer Debra Hayward — who brought the idea to Working Title. “Cats” will be produced by Working Title Films in association with Monumental Pictures and The Really Useful Group, and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Lloyd Webber, and Angela Morrison.

“Cats,” one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history — based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” — world premiered at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years. The ground-breaking production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Theatre awards for best musical. In 1983, the Broadway production won seven Tonys, including best musical, and ran for 18 years.

Elba is currently filming “Hobbs & Shaw” with Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, and can next be seen in the Netflix comedy series “Turn Up Charlie,” which he also co-created and executive produced. He returns next year to his starring role in the hit BBC series “Luther,” which he also executive produces.

He is repped by WME, The Artists Partnership, and Ziffren Brittenham LLP.

Judi Dench Joins Star-Studded ‘Cats’ Movie
By DAVE MCNARY @Variety_DMcNary

Judi Dench has joined the cast of Universal Pictures and Working Title’s film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Cats.”

Dench was set to play Grizabella in the original West End production in 1981, but she snapped her Achilles Tendon shortly before previews began and had to withdraw from the show. The project is based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. Eliot.

Idris Elba joined “Cats” on Oct. 16, adding to a star-studded cast that already included Ian McKellen, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, and Taylor Swift. It’s expected that Dench will portray the respected feline Old Deuteronomy in the movie. The character’s name is derived from Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Old Testament of the Bible.

Dench’s recent credits include “Victoria & Abdul,” The “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” films, “Philomena,” “Skyfall,” and Kenneth Branagh’s “Murder on the Orient Express.” She will be seen Disney’s “Artemis Fowl” next year. Dench has been nominated for seven Academy Awards and won best supporting actress for “Shakespeare in Love.”

Tom Hooper will direct from a script he co-wrote with Lee Hall. Producers are Hooper and Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, as well as fellow “Les Misérables” producer Debra Hayward, who brought the idea to Working Title. Production companies are Working Title Films in association with Monumental Pictures and the Really Useful Group. Executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Lloyd Webber, and Angela Morrison.

“Cats” received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981 where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances. In 1983, the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony awards including best musical, and ran for 18 years.

Dench is represented by Julian Belfrage Associates and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein. The news was first reported the Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye.

he musical features some of the best-known songs from the stage, including "Memory."

Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Jason Derulo will make his feature acting debut with Cats, Working Title and Universal’s big-screen adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

Derulo will play a feline named Rum Tum Tugger, who is rebellious and never satisfied.