The red-and-white striped hat is back—and it’s in motion once again. After years of development and anticipation, “The Cat in the Hat” is officially returning to the big screen in an all-new animated musical fantasy comedy. Warner Bros. is set to drop the first teaser trailer tomorrow, giving fans a first look at the Cat’s long-awaited comeback and the wild ride ahead.
Here’s everything we know so far about this bold reimagining of the Dr. Seuss classic, scheduled to hit theaters February 27, 2026.
“The Cat in the Hat”: Long Road to Animation
Originally announced back in 2012 by Illumination Entertainment (the studio behind “Despicable Me” and “The Lorax”), an animated “Cat in the Hat” film spent nearly a decade in limbo before Warner Bros. Pictures Animation officially picked up the rights in 2018. The project finally gained momentum in 2020 with Erica Rivinoja and Art Hernandez attached to direct. Eventually, “Kung Fu Panda 3” co-director Alessandro Carloni stepped in to co-direct with Rivinoja—who is making her feature directorial debut—after Hernandez’s departure in 2023.
Carloni and Rivinoja co-wrote the screenplay as well, promising a fresh yet faithful take on the beloved tale. Animation is being handled by DNEG Animation.
A Star-Packed Voice Cast
Leading the voice cast is Barry and “Saturday Night Live” alum Bill Hader, stepping into the chaotic shoes (or paws) of the Cat himself.
“A movie I have been working on for a long time—like, really long,” Hader says in a new promo video released by Warner Bros. ahead of the teaser. “The Cat has been reimagined in a way that is hilarious and unlike anything you’ve seen before. He lives in this expansive new universe with new characters.”
Hader is joined by a stacked voice ensemble, including:
- America Ferrera as the mother of the two children at the heart of the story (named Gabby and Sebastian in this version)
- Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, Paula Pell, Tituss Burgess, and Giancarlo Esposito in undisclosed (but sure-to-be-memorable) roles
Rising talent Tiago Martinez, reportedly voicing one of the siblings
From Live-Action Flop to Animated Redemption
This isn’t the first time “The Cat in the Hat” has leapt off the page. The 2003 live-action version starring Mike Myers was widely panned by critics and considered a financial failure—and led Dr. Seuss’s widow to halt any further live-action adaptations of his work. Now, with a full-blown animated reinvention, the 2026 version represents a chance to restore the Cat’s legacy through a medium perfectly suited to the author’s surreal style and poetic storytelling.
The Hype Begins
With the teaser trailer dropping tomorrow, fans will finally get their first glimpse of the new Cat—and the universe he now inhabits. Between its starry voice cast, top-tier animation, and the promise of a bold new take, “The Cat in the Hat” is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated family films of 2026. Stay tuned for more coverage as the trailer goes live tomorrow—along with our breakdown of all the hidden Seussical surprises it may hold.
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