Cats Movie 2019

Cats is an upcoming feature film adaptation of the musical of the same name, based upon Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by TS Eliot. It is set to be released December 20th, 2019. The film will be distributed by Universal Pictures.

Premise
Over a single night, a tribe of cats called the Jellicles 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.

Production


The project is adapted by Lee Hall, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler - originally announced to be Wayne McGregor who withdrew due to scheduling conflicts. Tom Hooper and Steven Spielberg act as producers for the film.

The project was first rumored in December 2013 in the Guardian, and more recently took hold in May 2016 by Variety, and little was heard while the project was in development. Both Anne Hathaway and Rihanna were considered for roles, but ultimately passed because of scheduling conflicts.

Andrew Lloyd Webber announced in January 2018 he was writing a new song for the film, to be sung by Victoria the White Cat. This would make the movie score eligible for the Oscars. This new song for Victoria will be called "Beautiful Ghosts" with lyrics by Taylor Swift. It will take place directly after Memory."Beautiful Ghosts" will also be reprised by Old Deuteronomy and sung by Taylor Swift at the end credits of the movie.

Hooper has cited "astonishing new technology to transform his cast members into a breathtaking, vivid new vision of one of the most beloved musicals of all time.” The set includes practical props, however, as referenced in a studio visit. Jason Derulo stated that "'Cats' uses motion-capture and other technology will be like nothing viewers have seen before." Idris Elba confirmed in an interview that the cast would not be wearing traditional costumes, relying on CGI instead.

Fiona Grace McDougal served as a vocal coach on set.

Rehearsals began in September 2018. Principal photography began on December 12, 2018, and wrapped March 2019. 

  

First Trailer
The first official trailer for the film was released on July 18, 2019 to a passionate, largely negative response to the CGI appearance of the characters.

The first trailer starts with shots of silhouetted Cats on a cobbled street, as car headlights approach. We see Victoria.

The words "One Night" appear alongside audio of "Memory". Mistoffelees and Victoria run towards a gate, and are met by other Cats on the other side. then, an interior shot shows Victoria's hand taken by a male cat.

The words "One Chance" are shown. The cobbled street is shown with the neon "Milk bar" in the distance. Old Deuteronomy speaks to Victoria, saying "I haven't seen you before". Victoria is then seen in front of Mistoffelees and various other Cats in the street. Deuteronomy turns and enters the building, followed by a swarm of Cats. Grizabella is seen in the street, singing "Memory" that we have been hearing, as Victoria follows the others through the doorway.

"For a new life" is shown. Victoria is seen ransacking the bedroom with Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, playing with jewellery, dancing around, and surrounded by falling feathers as from a burst pillow. Mistoffelees looks concerned, Victoria is seen looking at him, and warm golden light floods through a window as Grizabella peeks round the corner. Victoria dances solo in moonlight in a graveyard, then we see her having gone through the doorway to be met by Deuteronomy who says "It's about to begin". The music changes from "Memory" to the "Jellicle Ball", and we see Tugger dancing on the Milk Bar in neon light, surrounded by other cats.

The major stars are credited: James Corden, saying "Here we go" while clips of Bustopher dancing in the street outside the milk bar, in an alley, and diving into a trash can; Judi Dench, seen in golden light, and watching the ensemble dance; Jason Derulo, as Tugger popping through a cat flap or trap door to startle Victoria; Idris Elba, seen as Macavity in coat and hat, perched on a building watching;  Jennifer Hudson, seen hiding behind furniture then happily riding a chandelier; Ian McKellan pulls back the curtains, then is seen onstage, turning away from the audience of Cats;  Taylor Swift, seen lounging on a prop moon, spraying a bejewelled can of "catnip"; Rebel Wilson, as Jennyanydots, falls from a step and a concerned Munkustrap looks on. She continues to dance and beat-box, finally sitting down and resting her hand on a mouse trap that springs and causes her to yell. Finally we see "And introducing Francesca Hayward", we see Victoria spin wearing pearls in Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser's bedroom.

The music changes back to Memory, as Jennifer Hudson sings "Touch Me..." we see "From Academy Award winning Director Tom Hooper". Grizabella is singing inside, with the giant chandelier in the background, surrounded by Cats. Tugger does a knee slide in the kitchen with Victoria, Victoria and Tantomile are in the street, Mistoffelees throws a magic spell.

"Director of Les Miserables and The King's Speech" is seen onscreen. Skimbleshanks is seen tap dancing, Victoria dances alone, twin cats are seen dancing, Mungo (or Rumple) is seen leaping with underwear, Tugger and the twin cats are dancing in the street. Victoria is seen sitting at a dining table wearing pearls, then she is seen with Bustopher Jones spitting in her face. Bustopher is then catapaulted into a large trash can by the other cats.

"And from Andy Blankenbuehler choreographer of Hamilton" is shown on screen. Tugger is seen dancing outside the Milk Bar, Mistoffelees is high above the ensemble dancing, Victoria is playing with Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.

"Based on the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber T.S. Eliot stage Musical" is seen. Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer and Victoria dance in jewels and fabric, Munkustrap raises Victoria's chin, Bombalurina dances on a bar with Mungo and Rumple, with Misto and other cats watching, Macavity sneaks by in coat and hat, Misto and Victoria run down the neon-lit street. Grizabella is seen peeking around the corner, Tugger leaps into frame in the middle of a party in the milk bar, Bombalurina looks to camera, and dances in front of the prop moon, Victoria leaps in front of the ensemble of Cats, Jenny dances on a kitchen counter top, Tugger fills the frame in the milk bar, Misto and Victoria dance in the ball, and Misto throws flowers in the air above Victoria. Victoria asks Misto "and are you going to try for a different life?" meeting him in the street, with Munkustrap behind her.

Grizabella is seen singing "Look, a new day..." to Deuteronomy, Victoria is seen listening, and the featured Cats are seen on a lion at Trafalgar Square at dawn. The ensemble of Cats bows to the sun, and the golden version of the logo "CATS" is followed by "this Holiday Season You Will Believe". "Directed by Tom Hooper".

Second Trailer
The second trailer was released on November 19th, and showed some subtle changes to the animation from the earlier version. As expected, the second trailer re-uses material from the first, but also expands on the plot and shows more character depth.

The second trailer begins with an image of the full moon rising over Piccadilly Circus, and a foggy street lit by neon, silhouettes of Cats moving through the fog. the "Black and White Milk Bar" is clearly seen, as is "Meow Club" (possibly "Meow Meow Club"). The street bears strong resemblance to the area where Soho meets Piccadilly.

Bombalurina is seen dancing on a bar, while we hear Deuteronomy say "Tonight is a magical night". Victoria is seen listening, then playing with Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, one of whom slides down the bannister of a grand house. Bustopher Jones is seen as a massive cat flap opens.

Deuteronomy continues "Where I choose the cat that deserves a new life". The ensemble is seen pouring through the open doorway, while Macavity watches from above, wearing coat and hat. Victoria and another cat are silhouetted by the moon. The ensemble are seen looking up at Deuteronomy, who turns from them, and Victoria is seen following them through the open doorway.

Bombalurina sprays a can of glitter catnip from a suspended prop moon, while we hear Macavity tell Victoria "Going to the ball could get dangerous". We see "Wanted" posters featuring Macavity, which Victoria is looking at, then she is startled by Macavity appearing behind her. He laughs.

The "Jellicle Ball" music starts, with the words "This Christmas". Mistoffelees yells "Come on!" through the bars of a gate, Mungojerrie (or Rumpleteazer?) leaps around with underwear, Bombalurina is seen performing in front of the prop moon.

The words "Many will compete" are shown. Jennyanydots is seen dancing on a kitchen counter, Grizabella peeks from behind furniture, Mistoffelees twirls his top hat.

"Only one can win" is on screen. Tugger leaps in front of Jennyanydots yelling "Let's Dance!", Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer and Victoria are seen descending an enormous staircase, and Old Deuteronomy is seen while her voice is heard saying "I judge a cat by its soul", and cats are seen dancing in an alley full of trash, including a broken truck front with registration plates "EVE 6IS", and a neon sign reading "Wake up and dream!"

Macavity is heard saying "I got plenty of soul", and we see Cats dancing before we see Macavity, without hat and coat, addressing his words to Old Deuteronomy. We see a cat (Macavity?) leap in a gravity-defying jump onto the bonnet of the broken down truck.

A cat (Skimbleshanks or Mistoffelees?) says "Spotlight! And a drumroll please". we see Bombalurina dancing with other cats, followed by Skimbleshanks tap dancing. He is interrupted by Tugger yelling "Milk!" in the street outside the Milk Bar.

"You're Invited" is seen onscreen, followed by Munkustrap lifting Victoria's chin. Tugger and Jennyanydots jostle, Tugger dances on the Milk Bar counter. All the Cats bow to the rising sun in Trafalgar Square. Bustopher is seen chewing a large bone, surrounded by other Cats.

"To the musical event" is seen as we hear Munkustrap tell Victoria "The most deserving Cat will be reborn into another life". we see Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer and Victoria, Munkustrap speaking to Victoria, and then Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer leaping onto the bed, dressing Victoria in pearls.

"Of the year" is seen onscreen, as Munkustrap continues "So they can be who they've always dreamed of being". Mistoffelees is at the window to Mungo and Rumple's bedroom, draped in white fabric. He jumps in through the window, but catches his feet in a giant pair of shoes, and ends up tripping and yelling.

Victoria is challenged at the bars of the gate by Cassandra and Demeter, Cassandra asks her "What's your name?", Demeter says "Cat got your tongue?"

The major stars are credited: James Corden, is heard saying "Here we go!" as he dives into a trash can; Judi Dench is seen inside, then walking in the street while the ensembe Cats bow to her; Jason Derulo fills the frame in the chaotic neon-lit Milk bar; Idris Elba laughs, as he is perched on an Egyptian cat statue, he throws his hat and disappears into dust; Jennifer Hudson peeks around the corner; Ian McKellen is seen having pulled back the curtain; Taylor Swift is seen dancing on a bar; Rebel Wilson says "Don't mess with the crazy cat lady" as she is seen in a pink waistcoat, wildly swinging a chain around which hits her in the face; "And introducing Francesca Hayward" is seen onscreen followed by a shot of Victoria decked out in pearls, earrings and a large (or tiny - the same size as a pearl) watch. We see Jennyanydots dancing on the kitchen counter.

Macavity is heard saying "Now is the time to make the choice", as he addresses Victoria in the street. The cats dance in the rubbish-strewn alley, Victoria, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer jump on the bed, a cat leaps in the Ball, Bombalurina dances, and we see Bustopher Jones in the alley behind "Drones". He stands on a plank, waiting to be caterpaulted into a large trash can, as another cat (Maitre'd?) jumps onto the other end. It doesn't move, and Bustopher says "right well that's not going to work, is it? *hiss*, that's what I say to you, *hiss*!" Bustopher washes a paw, and Mistoffelees, very concerned, says "cross paws" while doing so.

Victoria is seen walking through the doorway to be greeted by Deuteronomy, who tells her "We're about to begin", and Victoria is seen dancing in front of the other Cats. Macavity, in hat and coat, says "I Love it".

The golden logo appears in front of a starry sky, with the silhouettes of Tower Bridge and Big Ben picked out in stars. "In cinemas December 20" and "Directed by Tom Hooper" is shown along with credits for Working Title, Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures copyright, Universal Logo, and informing us that "Soundtrack on Polydor Records".

Casting
Others involved with the film include: Jon-Scott Clark, Odette Hughes Walker,  and Georgia Lewis,.

Unlike the stage show where the Cats Chorus are usually all named characters, it appears that the film includes a large un-named chorus. There are also cameos of children's roles for the "Mouse Band" and "Mouse Sisters", most likely during the Gumbie Cat's number, where Jennyanydots "Teaches them music, crocheting and tatting".

Auditions for an unnamed role took place in July 2018; possibly for the role of Victoria the White Cat. Further auditions called for a last-minute addition to the cast in November 2019, likely for an ensemble role.

Tie-ins

 * A tie-in edition of Old Possums Book of Practical Cats will be released by Faber & Faber on 7th November 2019.
 * A Kate Spade tie-in in November 2019.

Trivia

 * Judi Dench playing Old Deuteronomy mirrors Andrew Lloyd Webber's similar casting choice in Starlight Express. The role of Poppa, similarly the father figure whose deep, rich voice was integral to the score, has changed gender to Mama. This change was part of a massive overhaul of the show which sparked controversy among many fans.
 * Characters are being changed; or maybe more accurately, ensemble character names are being assigned to different roles, such as Zizi Strallen's Tantomile: "So I'm allowed to officially tell people now that I’ve been filming the @catsmovie for the last 5 months. Playing Tantomile. She’s quite different from the show, not a twin but a little cheeky, flirty kitten. Can’t wait for everyone to see it this christmas." Melissa Madden Gray discussing Griddlebone: "My role is Griddlebone, who is quite a mysterious cat because she appears in different ways from the West End Version to the Broadway version and in this film she appears in a different way altogether..."
 * In 1991, Steven Spielberg had a concept of adapting Cats as an Animated Film. However, his animation division of Amblin Entertainment: Amblimation became defunct so instead a direct to video recording of the stage show was made in 1998, the Cats Film that is so familiar today. This movie could very well be the realization of Spielberg's original ideas.
 * After the First Trailer came out, the costume / character designs by Paco Delgado were heavily criticised and memes have been made with references to the Sonic movie (one of the lines in the Sonic trailer is "uh.. Meow?" Saying that it was a warning for the trailer) and the Mike Myers 2003 film "The Cat in The Hat".