A Hello Kitty Movie Is In Development

Hello Kitty--the popular cartoon character produced by Japan-based design company Sanrio--has seen a fair share of video game adaptions, with the last one being Hello Kitty Kruisers released in 2014 for iOS (iPhone/iPad), Nintendo Switch, and Wii U. In addition to games, the lovable kitten has been on the big screen, with the last one showing nearly 28 years ago. Now, in a strange turn of events, Hello Kitty is getting the Hollywood treatment once again.

Sanrio and Warner Bros. have announced (PDF link) that a Hello Kitty film is baking in the oven. As outlined by Crunchyroll's translation, Warner Bros.' New Line Cinema (Lord of the Rings, Rush Hour) and FlynnPictureCo. (Rampage, Skyscraper) are collaborating on the project. Additionally, Warner Bros. is scheduled to distribute the film worldwide. The film is reported to feature popular characters from Sanrio, including Hello Kitty herself.

Prominent film producer Beau Flynn (Battle of the Year, Two Night Stand)--who's worked with wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on films like Baywatch, the upcoming Jungle Cruise, and more--will spearhead the project as its producer. Wendy Jacobson (Rampage, Skyscraper) will serve as the project's executive producer. Aside from those two attachments, no casting announcements have been made.

Hello Kitty was created by Japanese designer Yuko Shimizu and introduced to the world in 1974. A female Gijinka (a human-Japanese Bobtail hybrid), Hello Kitty has traveled the world both physically and digitally, becoming a kawaii staple in Japanese pop culture. Her first appearance in a video game was Hello Kitty no Hanabatake, a children's platformer released on the NES in 1992. Ever since then, she's graced a plethora of home consoles from the PlayStation 2 to the obscure Bemani Pocket--Konami's console effort in the late 90s--and beyond.

Details on this film adaption are scarce at the moment. Crunchyroll does report that, while there's no release schedule or further information (Is it live action? CG? Animation? A combination of the three?), the project is in the development stage.

Image credit: Sanrio