‘Hello Kitty’ movie to hit theatres in 2028

It’s official – the ‘Hello Kitty’ movie is set for a theatrical release. A feature based on the Sanrio character has been in the works for a long time. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and New Line Cinema have finally confirmed the release.On 30 Oct., the studio announced the release date. “Hello Hollywood,” said an Instagram post from the studio on Wednesday. “#HelloKittyMovie is coming to theatres on 21 July 2028!”“The film marks Hello Kitty’s Hollywood theatrical debut as Hello Kitty and her friends embark on a cinematic adventure sure to delight audiences of all ages,” the studio told Variety in a statement.The release announcement was accompanied by a video of a costumed performer as Kitty White. Check out the post here. Director Leo Matsuda, who has previously directed animated films such as Inner Workings and worked as a story artist on films including Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph, is directing the upcoming feature. Dana Fox, who wrote the musical fantasy Wicked, has crafted the most recent draft of the script. Plot details of the feature have not yet been revealed.Producer Beau Flynn has spent nearly a decade in discussions with Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji to secure the rights to the beloved feline character. Shelby Thomas will oversee the project for Flynn Picture Company. Hello Kitty is one of the most beloved cartoon characters in global pop culture. She was created in 1974 by Japanese designer Yuko Shimizu and is owned by the company Sanrio.The character’s real name is Kitty White, a British anthropomorphised, white, round-faced, cartoon catlike girl with black eyes, a yellow nose, and no visible mouth. She wears a signature red bow on her left ear. Though Hello Kitty has feline characteristics such as pointed ears, whiskers, and a tail, the company portrays her as a girl, not a cat. According to the biography created by the company, the cute kitty was born in suburban London, where she lives with her parents and her twin sister, Mimmy. She enjoys baking, playing the piano, and making friends. Over the years, the third-grader has evolved into a symbol of friendship and kindness.Hello Kitty first appeared on children’s items such as coin purses, and now she features on everything from school supplies to aeroplanes, fashion collaborations, and even theme parks.News of the company eyeing a film adaptation emerged in 2015, and four years later, New Line and Flynn Picture Company confirmed that they were developing an “English-language film based on the venerable kids’ brand.”Tomokuni Tsuji, President and CEO, Sanrio Co., Ltd. “We are extremely delighted that Hello Kitty, our global messenger of friendship, along with many other Sanrio characters, will be brought to the big screen through our creative partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures and their talented teams. This marks an exciting new chapter for Sanrio as we step into the world of Hollywood and explore new frontiers in entertainment. Guided by the company’s vision of ‘One World, Connecting Smiles,’ we hope to spread smiles and happiness further afield through this film.”Introduced in 1974, Hello Kitty is one of the most recognized and beloved characters in the world, appearing on approximately 50,000 types of merchandise sold annually in over 130 countries and regions. The feature film will bring Hello Kitty and her friends, including fan favorites from Sanrio’s expansive universe to the global big screen, introducing them to audiences across cultures and generations.”