Draft:The Cat in the Hat (2026 film)

The Cat in the Hat is an upcoming American animated fantasy comedy film based on the 1957 children's book of the same name by Dr. Seuss, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. Written and directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni (in the former's feature directorial debut), it is the second feature-length adaptation of the book following the 2003 live-action film. The film stars Bill Hader in the title role, alongside the voices of Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, and Paula Pell.

An animated adaptation of The Cat in the Hat was originally announced by Illumination Entertainment in 2012, following the commercial success of The Lorax, with Rob Lieber set to write the script. However, the film never came to fruition. Warner Bros. picked up the rights to the book in January 2018. Rivinoja and Art Hernandez were hired to direct in October 2020 before the latter was replaced by Carloni in June 2023. The cast was announced in March 2024, with DNEG Animation providing animation.

The Cat in the Hat is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 6, 2026.

Voice cast

 * Bill Hader as the Cat in the Hat, a 6 ft. tall, anthropomorphic and large humanoid wise-cracking cat who wears an oversized red bow-tie and a magical red-and-white striped top-hat that reveals many humorous gadgets.
 * Quinta Brunson
 * Bowen Yang
 * Xochitl Gomez
 * Matt Berry
 * Paula Pell

Development
In 2012, following the financial success of The Lorax, an animated film adaptation of Dr. Seuss' eponymous book, Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment announced plans to produce a CGI adaptation of The Cat in the Hat. Rob Lieber was set to write the script, with Chris Meledandri as producer, and Audrey Geisel as the executive producer, but the project never came to fruition.

In January 2018, Warner Bros. Pictures picked up the rights to an animated Cat in the Hat film for Warner Animation Group, later renamed Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, as part of a creative partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises. In October 2020, Erica Rivinoja and Art Hernandez were announced as directors. However, in June 2023, Hernandez was replaced by Alessandro Carloni.

In March 2024, it was reported that Bill Hader had been cast in the titular role. Later that month, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation president Bill Damaschke formally confirmed Hader's role, with the addition of Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, and Paula Pell announced in the cast; Hader will also serve as executive producer alongside Dr. Seuss Enterprises president and CEO Susan Brandt. Jared Stern and Daniela Mazzucato were announced to serve as producers, with DNEG Animation handling animation.

Release
The Cat in the Hat is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on March 6, 2026. It was originally expected to release sometime in 2025.

Planned shared universe
In October 2020, it was announced that the film intends to launch a shared universe with two other animated films. The first, Thing One and Thing Two, is expected to be released in 2026. The other, an adaptation of another Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You'll Go!, is expected to be released in 2027.