Hello Kitty’s first-ever Hollywood movie gets a 2028 release date
The first-ever Hollywood film for the global icon Hello Kitty has officially been given a worldwide theatrical release date.
The movie is scheduled to premiere on Friday, the 21st of July, 2028.
The new film is a major production from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, in partnership with Sanrio.
This will be the first time that Hello Kitty and other popular Sanrio characters, such as My Melody, Kuromi, and Gudetama, will be brought to the big screen in a major Hollywood movie.
While the plot is still in development, the film is set to provide global, all-ages entertainment centered on the values that Sanrio characters have long embodied, such as “compassion” and “connection.”
This film project is a significant milestone for Sanrio as it aims to evolve into an IP-based platform that connects fans and creators, moving beyond its traditional merchandise-focused business.
In a statement, Sanrio President Tomokuni Tsuji said:
“I am so pleased that Hello Kitty and Sanrio’s other characters will finally be making their debut on the big screen in a creative partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures.”
He continued:
“This film will be a very large milestone, allowing Sanrio to pave a new path in the world of Hollywood entertainment.
Under our vision of ‘One World, Connecting Smiles,’ we will deliver even more smiles to people around the world through this film.”
The film project was first announced in 2019, and in 2021, it was reported that the film would be a hybrid of live-action and animation, with Jennifer Coyle and Leo Matsuda set to direct and Lindsey Beer writing the script.
However, the creative team for this new, official 2028 version has not yet been confirmed.
Hello Kitty, who was first created in 1974, remains a global powerhouse, with approximately 50,000 different products sold in over 130 countries and regions annually.
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