Ahead of the film’s release, the cast of “Cats” answers an important question for those unfamiliar with the Broadway production and T.S. Eliot novel: What is a Jellicle cat?
“That’s what this group of cats is called. It’s kind of like one big family where some people hate each other, some people love each other; but, they’re all on the same quest to get this second chance at life,” Jason Derulo said.
Boasting a star-studded cast including Judi Dench, James Corden, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Hudson, the film follows the tribe of cats as they all wait to discover which Jellicle cat will be chosen by Old Deuteronomy (Dench) to ascend to the Heaviside layer and begin a new life.
“Judi Dench, her character as Old Deuteronomy, she actually explains it during the film. But it’s the name of our group or the group that I hope to belong to as my character Victoria,” Francesca Hayward said.
To give some context as to how the “Jellicle” name was invented, Robbie Fairchild answered the question saying, “A Jellicle cat is the way that toddlers to T.S. Elliot would say ‘dear little cat.'” Rebel Wilson backed up the story, saying, “Yes, it’s from a toddler that can’t form words properly.”
Along with the original songs from Broadway, the film also features new original music from Swift and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The two co-wrote “Beautiful Ghosts.” “Cats” will be available in theaters nationwide Dec. 20.
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