Hello Kitty Set for Hollywood Theatrical Debut in 2028

Film: English-language animated Hello Kitty feature. Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and New Line Cinema. Release: July 21 2028 (sources list July 28). Directors: David Derrick Jr. (*Moana 2*) and John Aoshima (*Ultraman: Rising*). Producers: Beau Flynn, Ramsey Naito; Shelby Thomas oversees FlynnPictureCo.

‘Hello Kitty’ Feature Film Directors & Creative Team Announced

Hello Kitty, created by Yuko Shimizu and launched by Sanrio in 1974, quickly became a global merchandising icon with stores, theme parks, cafés, video games, and high-end fashion. Sanrio pursued a film adaptation in 2015; a licensing agreement with New Line Cinema was announced in 2019, the first time Sanrio licensed film rights for the character.

Hello Kitty Movie Recruits Disney & Netflix Filmmakers as Directors

Current screenplay is by Jeff Chan; earlier drafts were written by Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, Adam Sztykiel, Jenny Jaffe, Lindsey Beer and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson, based on a treatment by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. Both directors have overall deals with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation under Bill Damaschke. Aoshima’s credits include *Gravity Falls* and *Kubo and the Two Strings*; Derrick’s credits include *Moana 2*, story work on *Raya and the Last Dragon*, *Encanto* and Disney’s 2019 *The Lion King* remake.

‘Hello Kitty’ Feature Film Directors & Creative Team Announced

Sanrio reports Hello Kitty appears on roughly 50,000 merchandise items sold annually in over 130 countries, underscoring commercial reach. The film will be Hello Kitty’s first Hollywood theatrical release and the first studio licensing partnership for any Sanrio property, expanding the brand’s global merchandise presence.

Hollywood Reporter

Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji expressed enthusiasm for the film, noting Hello Kitty’s long-standing role as a symbol of friendship and its potential to expand that spirit worldwide. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation confirmed global distribution and described the collaboration with New Line Cinema and FlynnPictureCo. as a milestone for both studios.

Hello Kitty Movie Recruits Disney & Netflix Filmmakers as Directors

Release date varies between July 21 2028 and July 28 2028 across sources. Writing credit details differ: some outlets list Jeff Chan as the sole writer, while others reference an original script by Dana Fox. No plot synopsis, animation style or visual approach has been disclosed.

‘Hello Kitty’ Feature Film Directors & Creative Team Announced

• “I am extremely pleased that Hello Kitty and other popular Sanrio characters will be making their Hollywood debut,” — Shintaro Tsuji, Founder, Sanrio

Hollywood Reporter

• “Hello Kitty has long been a symbol of friendship and we hope this film will only serve to grow that circle of friendship around the world.” — Shintaro Tsuji, Founder, Sanrio

Hollywood Reporter

• “Hello Kitty has been in the works on a Hollywood feature film production for quite a long time, and has now nabbed some big time directors with a new update.” — ComicBook.com

New Hello Kitty Movie Nabs Disney and Ultraman Directors With Latest Update

• “The film marks Hello Kitty’s Hollywood theatrical debut as Hello Kitty and her friends embark on a cinematic adventure sure to delight audiences of all ages,” — New Line Cinema press release (as reported by ComicBook.com)

New Hello Kitty Movie Nabs Disney and Ultraman Directors With Latest Update

The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release in summer 2028 (July 21 2028 per most reports). Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and New Line Cinema will handle global distribution.

‘Hello Kitty’ Feature Film Directors & Creative Team Announced