‘Hello Kitty’ Movie Finds Directors in ‘Moana 2’ and ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Filmmakers
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- David Derrick Jr. will co‑direct the Hello Kitty movie with John Aoshima.
- Ramsey Naito will produce the film alongside Beau Flynn, while Shelby Thomas oversees production for FlynnPictureCo.
- Warner Bros. Pictures Animation will distribute the Hello Kitty movie with New Line Cinema on July 21 2028, marking the character’s Hollywood theatrical debut.
- Jeff Chan is the current screenwriter, building on earlier drafts by Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, and others.
- Shintaro Tsuji worked with producer Beau Flynn for nearly a decade to secure Hello Kitty film rights after Sanrio announced the project in 2019.
Why it matters: Sanrio secures a July 21 2028 theatrical launch, expanding Hello Kitty’s revenue streams beyond merchandise into box‑office earnings, while Warner Bros. adds a proven global brand to its animation slate.
