Bill Hader Voices the Cat in the Hat in Warner Bros.’ New Animated Film

The Cat in the Hat, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s adaptation of the 1957 Dr. Seuss children’s book, opens on 6 November. Bill Hader voices the title character, and Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni direct.

It is the second feature-length adaptation of the book after the 2003 live-action film with Mike Myers, and the first animated one. The film launches “the Seussiverse”, a series of adaptations of Dr. Seuss books that Warner Bros. is making with Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

What the film is about

The Cat in the Hat works as an agent of the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration. His boss is thoroughly exasperated with him, and to keep the stripes on his hat, the Cat is given one last chance and his toughest assignment yet: to cheer up siblings Gabby and Sebastian, who are struggling to settle into a new town after moving.

Who voices whom

• Bill Hader as the Cat in the Hat;
• Xochitl Gomez as Gabby;
• Tiago Martinez as Sebastian;
• Matt Berry as Waffles the fish;
• Giancarlo Esposito as Mr. Hoogeboom, the Cat’s boss;
• Quinta Brunson as Sherri;
• America Ferrera as Carmen, the children’s mother;
• Bowen Yang, Paula Pell and Tituss Burgess.

How it was made

Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the book in 2018. The directors wrote the screenplay from a story by Caroline Williams, DNEG Animation handled the animation, and Daniela Mazzucato and Jared Stern produced. The release was moved several times: first expected in 2025, then in March and February 2026, before it was finally set for November.

Lorne Balfe composed the score. The theme song is performed by Fitz and Tim Minchin with Hader, and Hilary Duff recorded the song “Catastrophe” for the film. In cinemas it will be preceded by the short Daffy Season, the first theatrical Looney Tunes cartoon in many years.

When to watch

The Cat in the Hat opens on 6 November. There are no reviews yet at the time of publication. Cast and stills are on the film’s page in our AMDB database.