The Cat in the Hat (A Cole Banister Universe Pictures Film)

"The cat's back, and back with a catgence!"

- Film's Tagline

The Cat in the Hat is an American animated musical adventure comedy film produced by Universal Pictures, Seuss Enterprises, and DNEG Animation. The film is the 4th remake of the book after the 1971 television special, and the panned 2003 live action adaptation. It will be released on January 4th, 2026 in the United States and is the 7th animated feature from DNEG Animation and it's first film to be distributed by Universal Pictures. The film was directed and written by Cole Banister, a long time fan of Seuss work. The film was dedicated to Audrey Geisel, who passed away on December 19th, 2018, 5 years before the movie entered production, and the film is thus dedicated to her memory.

Taking place in it's own canon, the film follows The Cat in the Hat in a different approach. He was born to a family raised by black farm cats on a farm. Until he was stolen but then adopted my a magician singer, years later and after he passed, The Cat in the Hat now travels around the world to put a cheer on someone's face, although yet trying to avoid something from his past. The Cat in the Hat features original songs written by Cinco Paul, who previously worked on songs for the 2012 adaptation of the Lorax.

Plot
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Cast

 * Benedict Cumberbatch as The Cat in the Hat, a 6 ft. tall, anthropomorphic and large humanoid wise-cracking cat who wears an oversized red bow-tie and a magical red-and-white striped top-hat that reveals many humorous gadgets who was a regular farm cat before being stole and then adopted by
 * Kyla Kowalewski as Sally Walden, Joan's dull, somewhat bossy, well-behaved and rule-obeying 10-year-old daughter, and the younger sister of Conrad.
 * Duke Cutler as Conrad Walden, Joan's imaginative, yet destructive and misbehaved, 12-year-old son, and the older brother of Sally.
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Carlos K. Krinklebine, a.k.a the Fish, the pet goldfish of the Cat in the Hat. As well as Thing 1 and Thing 2 two gibbering trouble-making but kind and helpful creatures that the Cat brings in with him.
 * Mr. Hans Gringmike, an human who wants fur from cat's to make clothing for an illegal clothing company.

Development
After the critical and commercial failure of the 2003 film The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss' widow, Audrey Geisel, was so dissatisfied with the film that she then decided not to allow any more live-action feature films based on his work. In December of 2023, Cole Banister came to Universal after graduation wanting to apply for a job and told them his dream of making another adaption of the classic Cat in the Hat story. Universal was at first very hesitant after the 2003 trash fire, but after pitching his idea, Universal saw his potential and they were sold. Planning on the film began early next year. The idea began with the film being a story of the origins of the Cat in the Hat, and how he got his famous hat, the things and his fish along with his thingamajigger, the sequel would flesh out his character and with the film just not ending at the point of book, they decided to create a new antagonist to rival the Cat in the Hat. So they created Mr. Hans Gringmike, an human how wants fur from cat's to make clothing for an illegal clothing company. Universal was sold on the idea and the writing of the script commended in June of that year, with the storyboards beginning in November of 2024.

On March 12, 2025 (The day of the story's publication), the film was announced, and was confirmed to have the same people who worked on the working on the animation of the 2024 Garfield Movie. It was also reported that the film would center on an entirely new creative storyline while keeping the main story intact.

In July of 2023, Benedict Cumberbatch was casted as the title character while Kyla Kowalewski and Duke Cutler were cast as Sally and Conrad respectively. In September, Dee Barkley revealed his roles as Carlos and the things.

W.I.P

Music
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Release
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Home Media
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Reception
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Trivia

 * This is the second time Benedict Cumberbatch voiced the main character of a Dr. Seuss film his first one being the 2018 adaptation of the Grinch.
 * With a run time of 92 minutes, it's the second longest Dr. Seuss film behind How the Grinch Stole Christmas at 105 minutes.