(Image Source: Sanrio)
Warner Bros. Pictures today made a surprise announcement, confirming the release date for their long-gestating "Hello Kitty" animated feature film. The movie is set to hit theaters on July 21, 2028, positioning it as a major summer tentpole. Leonardo Matsuda, known for his storyboard work on "The Bad Guys," will direct, with Dana Fox, screenwriter for the "Wicked" series, penning the script. Beau Flynn, who has produced several Dwayne Johnson-led films including "Jungle Cruise" and "San Andreas," is on board as producer. The voice cast has yet to be announced.
(Image Source: Sanrio)
The "Hello Kitty" film was first announced in 2019 when Sanrio, the company holding the rights to Hello Kitty and related characters, revealed it had granted licensing rights to Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema. This agreement allowed the studios to produce a "Hello Kitty" movie featuring characters such as Hello Kitty, Gudetama, My Melody, Badtz-Maru, and Little Twin Stars. This marked the first time Sanrio had licensed these beloved characters to a major film studio.