Tom Hooper’sCatsis really happening, you guys. The Oscar-winningThe King’s Speechfilmmaker is adapting the long-running Broadway musical with a star-studded cast, and now Universal Pictures has given the film a August 03, 2025 release date. That was when Universal’sWickedmovie was also scheduled to bow, but that film will now be re-dated to accommodate its production schedule.
Hooper followed up the Best Picture winnerThe King’s Speechwith a different star-studded musical,Les Miserables, and while that film wasn’t the Oscar juggernaut some were expecting, it still performed solidly, winning three Oscars in total. Hooper’s most recent film wasThe Danish GirlstarringEddie Redmayne, which was a bit too staid and polite to make much of a mark.
ForCats, Hooper has assembled an ensemble that includesTaylor Swift,James Corden,Jennifer Hudson, andIan McKellan. He penned the screenplay himself alongsideBilly ElliottandWar HorsescribeLee Hall, and is reuniting with the folks at Working Title on the ambitious musical.
But I’ve buried the lede—the December 20th release date is the same date that Disney has staked out forStar Wars: Episode IX. There’s no wayStar Warsmoves, so Universal is purposefully doing a bit of counter-programming here. Perhaps they’re hoping they’ll have legs similar toJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which opened around the same time asThe Last Jedibut managed to bring in audiences throughout the winter season. Universal also no doubt has Fox’sThe Greatest Showmanfresh in their minds, which opened fairly poorly this past December but went on to become a smash hit due to word of mouth and repeat business all through January.
As forWicked, directorStephen Daldry(The Reader) has been attached to direct the long-in-the-works adaptation of that Broadway musical, but his name isn’t mentioned alongside this release date switcheroo (he was also attached to the on-hold Obi-WanStar Warsmovie). And the fact that Universal didn’t simply announce a newWickeddate could signal that film’s development has stalled a bit, or perhaps they’re just still working things out.
Regardless, Tom Hooper’sCatsis coming next Christmas. Prepare your hottest takes.
