Cats movie release date, cast, plot: Everything we know about live action Cats movie

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacular West End show Cats based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats is the latest musical to get a Hollywood makeover. The trailer out today gives a three-minute snippet of what audience-goers can expect when the film is released at the end of this year. Taylor Swift, Dame Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson and Sir Ian McKellen are just a few of the A-list names who have signed up for the movie. They all pop up in the three-minute promo showing the actors prancing and prowling their way around dim-lit city streets in a magical medley.

Special effects have given the actors fur-laden bodies and faces, although their features are human-like and they get to keep their hands.

Curiously, the male cats are clothed while the female cats are not.

The results have divided movie critics and social media.

Louis Virtel wrote on Twitter: “I don’t know why you’re all freaking out over miniature yet huge cats with human celebrity faces and sexy breasts performing a demented dream ballet for kids.”

What is the plot of Cats?

The simple plot tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Pellicles.

Over the course on of one night, the felines are preparing for a ball and must make the decision of which Pellicle will be chosen to ascend to be reborn after ascending to the Heaviside Layer.

Their decision is called “the Jellicle choice” and each cat has its moment in the spotlight to shine.

Who is in the cast?

A huge bunch of famous faces are starring in this production directed by Les Miserables and The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper.

– Jennifer Hudson plays Grizabella

– Taylor Swift plays Bombalurina

– Judi Dench plays Old Deuteronomy

– Jason Derulo plays Rum Tum Tugger

– James Corden plays Bustopher Jones

– Idris Elba plays Macavity

– Rebel Wilson plays Jennyanydots

– Ian McKellen plays Gus the Theatre Cat

– Ray Winstone plays Growltiger

When is the film released?

The movie has a December 20, 2019 release date right now.

Cats is one of the longest theatre musicals in history, first appearing in the West End in 1981.

The original production was directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Gillian Lynne.

Translated into 15 languages and toured across the world, the show has won multiple awards.

Will the movie be as fur-tunate in winning a host of Oscars? Purr-haps.