Excitement is building for Hello Kitty’s first Hollywood adventure! According to Deadline, David Derrick Jr. (who co-directed Moana 2) and John Aoshima (known for Ultraman: Rising) will team up to direct Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema’s live-action/animated hybrid film featuring everyone’s favorite bow-wearing feline.
Joining the project as producers are Ramsey Naito and Beau Flynn, with the film set to charm audiences worldwide when it opens on July 21, 2028.
Sanrio, New Line Cinema, and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation are bringing this project to life, and they’ve confirmed that Hello Kitty won’t be alone—other beloved Sanrio characters will make appearances too.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about a Hello Kitty movie. Back in 2019, New Line Cinema and FlynnPictureCo were already developing the project, with Beau Flynn attached as producer. When the hybrid format was revealed in 2021, The Hollywood Reporter had Jennifer Coyle and Leo Matsuda lined up as directors, with Lindsey Beer writing the script.
Fans have plenty of Hello Kitty content to enjoy while waiting. The 3D animated series Hello Kitty: Super Style! debuted on Amazon Kids+ in December 2022 (rolling out to the UK, Japan, and Germany shortly after), distributed in Asia by ABC Frontier and produced in Europe by Watch Next Media, Monello Productions, and Maga Animation.
Earlier, Sentai Filmworks launched their Sentai Kids imprint in 2018 with the release of Hello Kitty & Friends – Let’s Learn Together. And just last June, Moonbug Entertainment announced they’re partnering with Sanrio on a crossover series featuring Hello Kitty alongside CoComelon characters—set for global distribution in 2026.
Source: Deadline (Justin Kroll)
