Hello Kitty just scored two directors with serious animation credentials for her big-screen debut. The beloved Sanrio character’s upcoming movie finally has filmmakers attached after years in development.
David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima to direct Hello Kitty movie
David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima will direct the upcoming Hello Kitty movie, Variety reported. Derrick Jr. previously directed Disney’s Moana 2, while Aoshima helmed Netflix’s Ultraman: Rising. Beau Flynn will produce the film alongside former Paramount Animation president Ramsey Naito. Shelby Thomas will oversee the project for FlynnPictureCo.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and New Line Cinema will distribute the film. The studio has set a theatrical release date of July 21, 2028. The movie marks Hello Kitty’s first ever Hollywood theatrical debut on the big screen. It will follow Hello Kitty and her friends on a cinematic adventure for all ages.
Jeff Chan is currently writing the script for the project. Previous drafts came from Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, Adam Sztykiel, Jenny Jaffe, Lindsey Beer and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson. Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon crafted the original treatment for the film.
Both directors previously entered into overall deals with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation under Bill Damaschke. Flynn spent nearly a decade working with Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji to secure the character rights. The project has cycled through multiple writers and creative teams since its initial announcement.
Japan’s Sanrio first introduced Hello Kitty in 1974 as a character. The brand quickly became a merchandising juggernaut with thousands of branded items worldwide. Stores, theme parks, cafes, video games and high-end fashion collaborations all carry the Hello Kitty name. Popular characters in the franchise include Dear Daniel and superhero alter ego Ichigoman.
New Line first announced the English-language feature project in 2019, marking the first time Sanrio licensed film rights to the iconic cat.