She’s been on everything from backpacks to blenders, but Hello Kitty’s next stop is the big screen. Nearly five years after Sanrio first sold the character’s film rights, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation will finally give the cat her close-up in 2028.
The upcoming film, simply titled Hello Kitty, will capture the same fashion, friendship, and feline fun families know and love from the franchise in a new animated adventure. While major details remain under wraps, Sanrio also licensed the film rights to several other beloved characters — including Gudetama, My Melody, and Little Twin Stars — so it wouldn’t be surprising to see a few familiar faces in the film. Hello Kitty is scheduled to arrive in theaters worldwide on July 21, 2028.
Leo Matsuda will direct the project, best known for his work as a story artist on Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph. As for the script, the studio tapped Dana Fox, co-writer and executive producer of Wicked, to create the most recent draft. FlynnPictureCo. is producing the project after spending nearly a decade negotiating with Sanrio for the rights to the character.
Tomokuni Tsuji, President and CEO of Sanrio, commented, “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.”
More details about the film will roll out as its 2028 release date approaches. For more information about Sanrio and its characters, visit sanrio.com.
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