James Corden Joins Jennifer Hudson, Robert Fairchild, and Mette Towley in All-Star ‘Cats’ Movie

Published on July 22nd, 2016

James Corden Joins Jennifer Hudson, Robert Fairchild, and Mette Towley in All-Star ‘Cats’ Musical (Exclusive)
Comedian and television host James Corden will make his feature debut in Cats, Working Title and Paramount’s big-screen adaption of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

Tom Hooper is directing the all-star production which boasts Jennifer Hudson, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Suki Waterhouse, Taylor Swift, Robert Fairchild, Mette Towley, Ian McKellen, Laurie Davidson, Rebel Wilson, Alexandra Daddario and Franscesca Hayward, among others, on the call sheet.

The story tells of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make what is known as “the Jellicle choice” and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.

Hooper and Lee Elliot (Billy Elliot, War Horse) have adapted a story, initially based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Elliot, for the screen.

Corden will play a feline name Bustopher Jones, a smart cat “with a coat of fastidious black” and “White Spats”, immaculately groomed and well turned out. Because of this traits, he is described as “this Brummell of Cats” - a reference to Beau Brummell, the founder of dandyism.

Among the other roles, Hudson is playing Grizabella, Elba will be playing Macavity, and Rebel Wilson had recently been cast to play Jennyanydots.

Production is due to begin in November.

Hooper and Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are producing, as well as Debra Hayward, who worked with Working Title on the adaptation Les Miserables and was instrumental in bringing Cats to the banner.

Steven Speilberg, Lloyd Webber, and Angela Morrison are executive producing.

Bobby Monyihan was originally cast to play Bustopher Jones. But, however, he left the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats pounces into theaters on December 25th, 2017.