Immortal words from Dr. Ian Meowcolm. And now, on a related note, let’s check out the trailer for the upcoming screen adaptation of Cats.
Cats the motion picture–set to be released “this holiday season”–is based on one of the most famous musicals ever to grace the stages of Broadway and West End. Even if you’ve never seen Cats, you almost certainly have a passing familiarity with it. Its most well-known song, “Memory”, has been recorded several times including one by Barbara Streisand which charted in Billboard in 1982. It has also been referenced in countless pop culture artifacts such as The Simpsons and Family Guy and is sighted as the reason the protagonist of Team America: World Police doesn’t trust actors.
Additionally, Cats holds the record for fourth- and sixth-longest running musical on Broadway and West End, respectively. It was written by musical theater great Andrew Lloyd Webber (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera) with lyrics largely based on the poetry of T.S. Eliot.
The movie will feature the voices and unholy homunculi versions of Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, James Cordon, Rebel Wilson, Taylor Swift, Dame Judi Dench, and Sir Ian McKellan.
It shouldn’t be surprising that Hollywood is trying to cash in on yet another live-action version of a thing that probably should not be. And yet I really have to wonder: Why? Who asked for this? Why? What are they thinking? Why? How much are they paying Idris Elba? And most importantly: WHY?!
Reaction from the internet has been expectedly swift, brutal, and hilarious.
We’ll end today on another timeless quote that this trailer brings to mind. This one from physicist Robert Oppenheimeow:
