The Cat in the Hat official first trailer reveal
The Cat in the Hat official first look. Image: Warner Bros Pictures
Bill Hader Brings Chaos and Charm in The Cat in the Hat
Newly overhauled Warner Bros Pictures Animation has revealed an official first look at The Cat in the Hat, with select press, including Popcorn Podcast, invited to preview the footage early before it was released to movie fans worldwide.
With comedic powerhouse Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live) voicing the iconic feline, and directorial duo Erica Rivinoja (Trolls) and Alessandro Carloni (Kung Fu Panda 3) at the helm, the animated film is set to reintroduce Dr Seuss’s beloved trickster to a whole new generation.
Scheduled to hit Australian cinemas on February 26, 2026, The Cat in the Hat marks the beginning of a new era for Warner Bros Pictures Animation, the newly minted animation label under the studio’s umbrella. As studio president Bill Damaschke shares, this film is more than a relaunch – it's a manifesto ushering in a new era of reimagined Warner Bros animation projects.
“The Cat in the Hat really is the ambassador for everything we’re trying to do – original stories, bold styles and innovative takes on beloved characters,” Damaschke says of the studio’s vision, adding they are “doubling down on commitment to original stories, as well as elevated takes on beloved characters and worlds.”
He adds: “For The Cat in the Hat to be the first film feels like the perfect project because it’s actually all of those things at the same time. It’s a completely original take on a character that I think a lot of people have a connection to, but as brought to life by our filmmakers and by the very singular actor who plays the cat, it comes out in a way that’s bigger, better, more amazing and more whimsical than you could ever imagine.”
A Modern Twist on a Mischievous Classic
While Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat has been adapted before, this is the character’s first fully animated theatrical feature. The team made it clear this isn’t just a retelling – it’s an expansion. The story begins where the original book ends, asking the question: What happens when the Cat closes that front door?
“We started with the book as our jumping-off point,” Carloni explains. “We asked: Is this cat just a chaos agent, or is there more to him? What if he’s the best child psychologist in the world?”
In this reimagining, the Cat’s antics are revealed to be part of a job, one with a full Seussian corporation behind it, complete with a cast of colourful characters, including Yak with a Pack, Pig in a Wig, Goat in a Coat, and yes, even the menacing Rat with a Bat.
Bill Hader Is the Cat’s Meow
Leading this wildly imaginative world to life is Bill Hader, who calls playing the Cat a dream role. Known for his comedic versatility and voice work, Hader was eager to embody the character’s eccentricity and (as the creatives revealed exclusively to Popcorn Podcast), took it beyond the recording booth with Hader's improvisational talents and physicality heavily leaned on during production.
“They were shooting me for some of the stuff. I don't know if they used any of it,” Hader says.
“We shoot something called lipstick cam, which is where we have the actors’ performances recorded, just because it makes it so much easier for the animators to get expressions,” Rivinoja says.
“Bill is in a booth performing something and his face gives you so much information,“ Carloni reveals. “But it’s not like he can run around on set, and so, if you have to translate that, it becomes quite a task to know exactly what is the mannerism of this character. How does it do something magical or supernatural or very physical from a performance that came from a booth?”
Rivinoja adds: “Bill does these weird things with his voice – just in life – and we ended up using them in the movie. He even mimics voices rewinding, like a tape playing backwards. We didn’t need sound effects. That’s just Bill.”
The Cat in the Hat will incorporate a variety of stunning animation styles. Image: Warner Bros Pictures
A Visual Feast Across Multiple Worlds
Carloni, a seasoned animator, describes how the film’s animation shifts across distinct visual styles, inspired directly by Dr Seuss’s imaginative illustrations. There’s the real world, the Cat’s surreal Seussian realm, and an entirely new universe explored through the children’s memories.
“Each world has its own aesthetic and animation style,” Carloni says. “When the Cat enters a new dimension, the look changes – lighting, surfaces, even the rendering approach – to feel like you’re stepping into a Seuss book or beyond.”
This ambitious visual strategy is backed by DNeg Animation, known for bold and textured animation, offering a truly cinematic experience that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
A Cast of Comedic All-Stars
Alongside Hader, the film features an impressive ensemble of comedic voices, including Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Matt Berry (A Minecraft Movie), Paula Pell (Girls5eva), Bowen Yang (Wicked), and Xochitl Gomez (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness). Hader shares that while most animation recording happens solo, efforts were made to bring actors together when possible to spark chemistry.
“Watching Quinta and Bill riff together was just electric,” Rivinoja says. “They’re best friends in the film, and you really feel it.”
And of course, the Things return, but now it’s not just Thing One and Thing Two. “They’re not well-behaved,” teases Rivinoja, confirming a whole chaotic squad of Things stole the show during early test screenings.
Comedy for All Ages
While The Cat in the Hat is a family film, the filmmakers emphasise it doesn’t talk down to kids or adults.
“We wanted to make ourselves laugh,” says Rivinoja. “There’s smart wordplay, sophisticated humor, and yes, even some classy fart jokes. Because come on, everyone loves them.”
Carloni adds, “This story is preloaded with nostalgia for multiple generations. It’s been read by grandparents, parents, and kids. We wanted to honour that love and expand on it.”
Mark Your Calendars
With its mix of sharp humour, visual inventiveness and beloved characters, The Cat in the Hat is shaping up to be a landmark release, not just for Warner Bros Pictures Animation, but for film fans worldwide.
