Hello Kitty Prepares for Her Close Up as WB Dates New Movie for 2028

Over five years since new that Sanrio had sold the rights to its globally popular Hello Kitty brand, Warner Bros. Pictures has announced a global release date of July 21, 2028 for their feature film project. The news was shared with an Instagram post showing a costume mascot revealing the WB water tower festooned with Hello Kitty’s trademark bow.

From New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, the film marks Hello Kitty’s Hollywood theatrical debut as the charming pop culture icon and her friends embark on a cinematic adventure sure to delight audiences of all ages.

The deal marks the first time Sanrio has handed over one of its popular characters to a major film studio. Since first appearing on a vinyl coin purse in 1974, Hello Kitty — originally designed by cartoonist Yuko Shimizu — has appeared in comics, video games and animation (most recently a CG-animated vlog series on YouTube), as well as in a live-action kids’ series and her own music album … not to mention more than 50,000 different branded products.

The film is produced by Beau Flynn of FlynnPictureCo. (Disney’s Jungle Cruise, Red Notice), who spent nearly a decade courting Sanrio Founder Shintaro Tsuji to secure the rights—marking the first time Sanrio has granted film rights to their most beloved character. Shelby Thomas will oversee for FlynnPictureCo.

FlynnPictureCo. is currently in post-production on Disney’s upcoming live action Moana adaptation, directed by Hamilton helmer Thomas Kail and starring Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Catherine Laga’aia. The film premieres theatrically worldwide on July 10, 2026.

 

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