This is honestly the first time I’m hearing about the the idea/fact that someone is going to make a movie adaptation out of the successful musical Cats. Is this really happening, or is someone pulling my leg? The reason I think this is fake is because the cast seems… very random. ALMOST TOO RANDOM. Taylor Swift and Ian McKellen? Doing Cats?!?!
Working Title and Universal’s much-discussed movie adaptation of the hit Cats musical has grown some sizeable claws. 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.
The musical – which is the fourth-longest-running show in Broadway history, and was the longest running Broadway show in history from 1997 until 2006 – features some of the best known songs from the stage, including “Memory.”
Production on Cats is set to take place later this year in the U.K., with more cast due to be announced. Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) has adapted Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, which itself was based on the T.S. Eliot novel Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
This is coming from The Hollywood Reporter, not some random blog. So I think this is real, even though it feels like a fever-dream. Another reason why this might be real? Taylor Swift actually has some kind of history with Tom Hooper – if you remember, Taylor was initially cast as Eponine in Hooper’s Les Miserables. She was one of hundreds of girls to audition and it was a big deal when she was cast. She dutifully went to London (where it was being filmed) and began preparations for the film. Then she was fired and replaced very quickly. So is Hooper trying to do Taylor a solid and give her another role after the Les Mis situation fell apart? Hm. As for the rest of it… I mean, I’m not going to see it. But have fun, peeps.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Pacific Coast News.
Im not syaing Taylor can’t sing….but she really doesnt have the pipes to do broadway songs. And while yes, she probably get some dance training it obviously wouldnt be as good as someone who has been doing ballet all their life. Not that J-Hud has extensive dance training either, but Im guessing she would be Grizabella which is really a singing role. and james Corden also my guess is that he would be either Old Deuteronomy or Bustopher Jones which arent dancing roles either.
You can say she can’t sing or dance, it’s pretty much the case. Obviously, she can carry a tune, but not very far! Cats the Comedy starring Taylor Swift. Ugh. Please don’t ruin Memory. At least Jennifer is there. I hate this.
I’ve never thought TS was a very good singer. She doesn’t seem to have much range and her voice is definitely not powerful (Jennifer Hudson’s voice blows Taylor’s out of the water). I will never forget the duet she did with Stevie Nicks years ago at some awards show. She was AWFUL! I like the rest of the possible cast, though.
I’m guessing that Sir Ian will be Gus the Theatre Cat, which is my favorite role, and I’m sure he’ll do great. But who in the heck is Taylor going to play? When I go and see it, I think that will probably be my bathroom break song.
Making a Cats movie musical, period, is a horrendous idea. This cast list is random and hilarious, though.
This looks like a ridiculous movie, with big names trying to cover the fact. Also, besides the fact that Taylor cant actually sing (I’m sure they’ll auto tune her), she is an even worse actress. Even smaller roles like in her music videos, she’s pretty cringey. I guess they’re hoping for another Les Mis, but is Cats even that popular? I’m not a big theatre person, I know it was a beloved show, but not to the extent of Les Mis right? Or am I off? Like I said theatre is not my thing, but this plot does not sound like it would merge well with film.
At one point it was the longest running show. So yes its popular
OMG this is going to be horrifying! Horrifying!!!….I can’t wait. 😁
(for Netflix)
Hooper did an amazing job with Les Mis. I still watch it all the time. I’m glad he recast Taylor because she would have ruined it.
I’m excited about Cats because I love all musicals and I have high hopes but I’m not a Taylor fan so I’ll just hope for the best.
Swift aside, I think it could work – but only if Hooper doesn’t actually put the actors in cat costumes and have them prance about on camera. I’m picturing something along the lines of that Jungle Book movie they recently made. Lots of big name people voiced the animals, but they weren’t actually on screen. Don’t know if it was straight motion capture or just voice work with lots of CGI, but each animal had a lot of personality and the voice fit the character.
I know I may be alone in thinking this, but Jennifer Hudson is not the greatest singer. She shouts the high notes and I think her rendition of Memories is going to suffer for it. I think they could have done better casting for singers besides her or Taylor Swift.
I loathe Andrew Lloyd Weber and Cats is one of his worst.
I don’t know which idea is worse, making Cats a movie or casting Swift.
I actually really like cats. But this sounds like a horrible idea. Taylor doesn’t have the vocal range to do Broadway. This will end up like being phantom of the opera all over again 😑
I’m fully expecting some Natalie Wood in West Side Story trickery (as in, being dubbed for someone else) for Taylor’s vocals here (that, or yes, auto-tune–but at the end of the day, auto-tune can only do so much).
Oh god more breathy, talk-singing and nasal whine-screeching
This is going to bomb HARD
Who is this movie aimed at? Those who love the musical can already buy it on dvd, with an exceptional cast. Can’t see any of the above named cast doing it better.
So is this why she’s suddenly being more visible?
Hasn’t she already had dancing lessons, and she’s still terrible. I have no doubt they can make her singing sound good, but how are they going to make her dancing look good. One needs to know their limitations.
Taylor always seems like a fish out of water