The beloved Sanrio icon is finally making her Hollywood debut as Warner Bros. sets a 2028 release date for the ‘Hello Kitty’ movie.
After years of waiting and endless fan buzz, Hello Kitty is officially getting her own big-screen debut!
Warner Bros. Animation and New Line Cinema have announced that the long-awaited Hello Kitty movie will hit theaters on July 21, 2028.
The studio confirmed the exciting news on Instagram, posting, “Hello Hollywood 🎀🌴🎬 #HelloKittyMovie is coming to theaters July 21, 2028!” According to Warner Bros., the film will mark Hello Kitty’s first-ever Hollywood appearance as she and her friends “embark on a cinematic adventure sure to delight audiences of all ages.”
The film will be directed by Leo Matsuda, best known for his Disney short Inner Workings and story work on Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph.
The latest version of the script was penned by Dana Fox, who also co-wrote the upcoming Wicked adaptation. Behind the scenes, producer Beau Flynn of FlynnPictureCo. has reportedly spent nearly a decade collaborating with Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji to bring the beloved character to life on the big screen.
Hello Kitty — whose full name is Kitty White — was first introduced by Japan’s Sanrio in 1974. The adorable character with her signature red bow quickly became a global sensation. Over the decades, Hello Kitty’s face has appeared on everything from lunchboxes and T-shirts to luxury fashion lines and even airplanes.
She’s inspired theme parks, cafés, and countless collaborations with brands worldwide, becoming a pop culture phenomenon unlike any other.
This upcoming film has been in development since 2019, marking the first time Sanrio has ever licensed Hello Kitty’s film rights for an English-language production. While details about the plot remain under wraps, fans are already speculating whether Hello Kitty will finally have a speaking role.
Traditionally, the character doesn’t have a mouth and has been portrayed as silent in most of her animated series.
The movie may also include appearances from other fan-favorite Sanrio characters such as My Melody, Little Twin Stars, and Gudetama, the lazy egg who became an internet meme sensation.
After decades of dominating pop culture through products, cartoons, and theme parks, Hello Kitty is finally getting her moment to shine on the silver screen — and fans around the world are already marking their calendars.
