Yesterday, Universal Pictures
gave the first little peek inside their big-budget adaptation production of “Cats,”
the iconic musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber based on the poetry collection by
T.S. Eliot. It was actually a behind-the-scenes preview of the production, with
the cast rehearsing their catlike choreography in some fairly impressive sets
that evoke the characters as cat-sized in a large human world. It also included
short interviews with the principal stars giving their piece on their participation
in this momentous film. All this was but an appetizer for an actual first
trailer. We will not have to wait for it any longer; here it is.
The first cinematic teaser for the
“Cats” musical film came out well before the weekend release that Universal
initially promised. At last we get to see the cast, composed of actors of film
and stage plus recording artists aplenty, as they would if they were Jellicle
cats of the London streets. And from the looks of the comments on the YouTube
video version, the reactions are roughly split down the middle, due perhaps to
some reasonable reservations from the viewers.
As theater buffs would know, the “Cats”
musical easily stands out due to the performers being dressed in skintight cat costumes
with colorful patterns invoking cat coat markings and elements of musical
design. Director Tom Hooper has opted to use motion-capture on the film cast to
superimpose CGI cat costumes on them as they move in the screen, with the
inclusion of animated and independently moving CGI tails. The result is both
impressively smooth and a bit unsettling for even members of the “furry”
fandom.
We can also thank the trailer for
finally tying down each cast member to the roles they portray, seeing as the
individual “Cats” characters stand out in musical theatre themselves. Taylor
Swift is the flirty Jellicle Bombalurina, Jennifer Hudson is the aged “Glamor Cat”
Grizabella (singer of “Memory”), Judi Dench is the gender-swapped Jellicle
leader Old Deuteronomy (finally getting her “Cats” debut after missing out in
the initial 1981 production), Idris Elba is the feline criminal Macavity,
ballerina Francesca Hayward plays Victoria the dancing white cat, Rebel Wilson
is the Gumbie Cat Jennyanydots, Ian McKellen as Gus the Theatre Cat, James
Derulo is Rum Tum Tugger (the Jagger/Bieber cat depending on production date),
and more.
Tom Hooper has solid experience
turning stage musical to musical film, having directed Universal’s earlier
conversion “Les Misérables” in 2012. Choreography is overseen by Andy
Blankenbuehler, who worked on “Hamilton.” Steven Spielberg executively produces
with Andrew Lloyd Webber. “Cats” is up for a holiday season premiere this
coming December 20.
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