Mar 18, 2024

Warner Bros. animated feature film "The Cat In The Hat" to open in theaters March 6, 2026.

Warner Bros. Pictures Animation (WBPA) has announced details regarding its animated feature adaptation of Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat," which is scheduled for release on March 6, 2026.

The film will be written and directed by Alessandro Carloni (director, "Kung Fu Panda 3") and Erica Livinoja (screenwriter, "Trolls," "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2") DNEG Animation is the project's animation studio partner, with Daniela Mazzucato and Jared Stern producing for Warner Bros.

The WBPA has not yet released a full synopsis, but the company explains in a release:

In the wonderfully whimsical tradition of Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat makes its theatrical animated feature film debut. In the film, the cat takes on his toughest mission yet... to encourage a brother and sister who are struggling to move to a new town.

"The Cat in the Hat" was a 1971 animated musical TV special that was very good, and the 2003 live-action film was not so good. It was so poorly loved that Seuss's widow, Audrey Geisel, forbade future live-action adaptations of her husband's work.

Six years ago, Warner Bros. first announced that it would work with Seuss Enterprises to produce a lineup of animated films. Today's announcement seems to confirm that that plan is still alive and well; according to the WBPA and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, "The Cat in the Hat" will be the first animated feature in the lineup of projects the two companies are developing together.

The voice cast for 2026's The Cat in the Hat will feature Bill Hader as the cat, with Kinta Branson, Bowen Yang, Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, and Paula Pell.

Bill Damaschke, President of Warner Bros. Film Animation, said of the project:

"We are delighted to be partnering with our friends at Dr. Seuss to take audiences of all ages on an adventure into the beloved world of The Cat in the Hat. We are overjoyed to be partnering with them to take audiences of all ages on an adventure into the beloved world of The Cat in the Hat. With this amazing voice cast, led by Bill Hader as the fun-loving, chaos agent, and under the direction of filmmakers Alessandro and Erica, we look forward to sharing the spectacle of this Seuss film with audiences around the world in 2026.

Susan Brandt, President and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, added: "We are thrilled to be working with Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Our previous collaborations with the team at Warner Bros. Film Animation have been a wonderful experience. We are thrilled to be working with them because they really understand what it takes to capture the magic of The Cat in the Hat and share his imagination and brand of joy with a new generation of Dr. Seuss fans."