Warner Bros. Pictures Animation is kicking off its full-length feature slate with one of children’s literature’s most enduring agents of chaos. The studio has released a new trailer for “The Cat in the Hat,” an animated theatrical feature built around Dr. Seuss’ mischief-making feline, this time voiced by Bill Hader.
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Directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni, who also wrote the screenplay, “The Cat in the Hat” reimagines the character for a larger adventure beyond the familiar rainy-day setup. In this version, the Cat works for the I.I.I.I., or the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC, where his job is to bring joy and chaos into the lives of children who need a little extra magic.
His latest assignment sends him to Gabby and Sebastian, two siblings who are struggling after moving to a new town. Naturally, the Cat’s approach to emotional support involves plenty of mayhem, and the film’s premise gives him a higher-stakes problem than usual: if he pushes things too far again, he could lose his magical hat.
The voice cast also includes Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, Paula Pell, Tiago Martinez, Giancarlo Esposito, America Ferrera, Bowen Yang, and Tituss Burgess. The story is by Caroline Williams, with Daniela Mazzucato producing.
The film marks the animated theatrical feature debut for “The Cat in the Hat” and the first full-length feature from Warner Bros. Pictures Animation under its current banner. Led by animation veteran Bill Damaschke, the division has positioned itself around a slate built on “hope, heart, and humor,” with an emphasis on artist-driven animated features and new takes on recognizable characters.
“The Cat in the Hat” arrives in theaters and IMAX across North America on November 6, 2026, with international rollout beginning November 4, 2026. Watch the trailer below.
