Stars from all corners of Hollywood are putting in the work to produce something truly special with “Cats”.
Universal Pictures released a first look at the upcoming movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic 1981 musical Cats. The movie stars heavy hitters like Taylor Swift and Jennifer Hudson, who discussed the film in a behind-the-scenes featurette.
RELATED: Taylor Swift Went To ‘Cat School’ On The Set Of ‘Cats’
“My first memories of performance go back to when I was in Pennsylvania growing up. My favourite thing was getting to be theatrical, to tell a story. I’ve always brought that narrative element to my live shows,” said Swift. “This musical is timeless.”
“My connection to the arts is music. I grew up singing in the church. That’s how we communicate, that’s how we relate,” Hudson reflected. “When I first heard I was going to be in ‘Cats’… whoo, instantly I felt the pressure.”
Jason Derulo is another singer-dancer who scored himself a role in the movie. “I was just obsessed with singing and dancing, but it started with me in the kitchen with my socks on trying to do the moonwalk,” he said. “I think you need to choose something you’re so obsessed with you want to do it all the time.”
The quality of the cast extends beyond the star-studded names. “You have some of the best hip-hop dancers, Royal Ballet,” Derulo shared. “Some of the best tappers in the world.”
RELATED: Jennifer Hudson Sings ‘Memory’ During ‘Cats’ Presentation
One very special inclusion in the cast is Dame Judi Dench. The legendary actress has a special relationship with the storied musical: “I was cast in 1981 just before we opened,” Dench said of the musical’s original theatre run. “I snapped my Achilles tendon. I thought that was my history with Cats but it turns out not to be.”
“Cats” premieres December 20. The film is directed by Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech”, “Les Misérables”) and boasts James Corden, Rebel Wilson, Idris Elba, and Ian McKellen among the cast.
