Hello Kitty movie appoints directors
Hello Kitty has officially moved forward with the appointment of directors David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima. The film is being developed by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, with a global theatrical release scheduled for 21 July 2028.
New team
David Derrick Jr., known for co-directing Moana 2, and John Aoshima, co-director of Ultraman: Rising, will lead the project, replacing previously attached director Leo Matsuda. Producers include Beau Flynn and former Paramount Animation president Ramsey Naito, while Shelby Thomas oversees the project for FlynnPictureCo.
Family-oriented cinematic adventure
The film marks Hello Kitty’s first Hollywood theatrical feature and will follow Hello Kitty and her friends on a family-oriented cinematic adventure. The screenplay is currently being written by Jeff Chan, following earlier drafts by several writers including Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, Adam Sztykiel, Jenny Jaffe, Lindsey Beer and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson. The original treatment was created by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon.
Created by Yuko Shimizu and introduced by Sanrio in 1974, Hello Kitty has become one of the world’s most recognisable global brands, with merchandise sold in more than 130 countries. The upcoming film represents a major milestone in expanding the franchise into Hollywood cinema.