Do you remember when the Broadway musical Cats was everywhere? There were parodies galore with die-hard fans waiting in the wings. It was one of the most popular Broadway shows of all time, setting a trend of “megamusicals” thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s bombastic score. After the 90s, though, the hype seemed to wear down and it all became a memory. That is until today when the debut trailer dropped for the “live-action” film.

The trailer starts with cats stalking the alleyways. Immediately we understand that this film is going to be heavily inspired by the original musical as the cats are anthropomorphic. We’re then taken on journey following Victoria the White Cat (played by newcomer Francesca Hayward) as she meets the pitiful tribe of cats known as the Jellicles. In one night, the Jellicles will make the decision to let one of their own begin a new life.

This trailer is a sight to behold. The musical is going to be a production marvel, thanks to Tom Hooper‘s (Les Misérables) vision. However, one of the biggest things that many people couldn’t get over about the musical was the actors dressed up like cats. So in order for the production team to have their cake and eat it too, they’ve CGI’d all of the actor’s faces on the cat-like bodies. In all honesty, it’s a bit of nightmare fuel. It’s very jarring to see these actors’ faces just slapped onto a CGI cat body. Maybe the more you watch it the more you get used to it? Right now I’m freaked out. With heavy hitters like Dame Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift and James Corden in the lineup, the film very unlikely to fail despite the freaky animation.

You’ll have to have a look for yourself. Be sure to come back to Geek Girl Authority for more trailer fun. 

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Cats is directed by Tom Hooper with a screenplay by Lee Hall and Hooper. The film stars Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, James Corden, Rebel Wilson, Jason Derulo, Ray Winstone, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen, Francesca Hayward, with Dame Judi Dench. 

A tribe of cats must decide yearly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.

The Cats come out to play December 20th, 2019.