Tom & Jerry (2021 film)

Tom & Jerry[1][2][3] (released in some international markets as Tom & Jerry: The Movie)[4] is an upcoming American live-action/computer-animated slapstick comedy film based on the characters of the same name created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, produced by the Warner Animation Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is directed (and produced as an executive) by Tim Story and written by Kevin Costello.[5] It stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Colin Jost, Rob Delaney, and Ken Jeong in live-action roles, while the voices of the titular characters are provided by Hanna, Mel Blanc and June Foray, via archival recordings, alongside Frank Welker. The film's story follows Jerry taking up residence in a fancy hotel in New York City with Tom hired to keep him from ruining an important wedding, until they have to put their differences aside to face against a staffer antagonizing the two.

"Tom & Jerry: The Movie" redirects here. For the 1992 animated film, see Tom and Jerry: The Movie.

Tom & Jerry
Theatrical and HBO Max release poster
Directed byTim Story
Produced byChris DeFaria
Written byKevin Costello
Based on
Starring
Music byChristopher Lennertz
CinematographyAlan Stewart
Edited byPeter S. Elliot
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
Running time
101 minutes
Country
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

Originally intended as a live-action/computer-animated film in 2009, the film languished in development hell, with plans eventually shifting to producing an entirely animated film, in the same vein as the original theatrical shorts, in 2015. The film again became a live-action/animated hybrid, using the shorts as inspiration, in 2018, with filming beginning in 2019.[6]

Tom & Jerry is set to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States on February 26, 2021, with a one-month simultaneous streaming release on HBO Max.[7] It is the first theatrically released Tom and Jerry production since 2005's The Karate Guard, the second set in New York City after 1945's Mouse in Manhattan, the third hybrid film featuring the characters after 1945's Anchors Aweigh and 1953's Dangerous When Wet and the first theatrically released film starring the characters since 1992's Tom and Jerry: The Movie. The film is also marked to celebrate the 81st anniversary of the titular characters on the same month since the 1940 cartoon, Puss Gets the Boot.

Premise

Tom gets kicked out by his owners and is left without a place to stay along with his longtime rival Jerry, who has also left without a source of food. Now homeless, the cat and mouse duo are left wandering in the streets and decide to call a truce to their rivalry then go their separate ways to have a fresh start in their lives. The two later cross paths in Manhattan, NYC, where Jerry has taken up residence in the city's largest, exquisite and finest Royal Gate Hotel, causing all sorts of trouble while the staff is preparing for the "wedding of the century" between Ben (Colin Jost) and Preeta (Pallavi Sharda). Kayla (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young, newly employed staff member, is tasked by the hotel manager Mr. DuBros (Rob Delaney) with planning the event and getting rid of Jerry. Kayla hires Tom to catch Jerry, reigniting their never-ending fight. However, chaos unfolds when the cat-and-mouse slapstick battle threatens to destroy Kayla's career, the wedding, and possibly even the hotel itself as the chase causes widespread mayhem. But soon, an even bigger problem arises as the three may have to put their differences aside when they uncover a diabolical conspiracy that involves the deputy hotel manager Terrence (Michael Peña).

Cast
Main article: List of Tom and Jerry characters
  • Chloë Grace Moretz as Kayla, a young hotel employee and a wedding planner who hires Tom to get rid of Jerry before the wedding.[8] Moretz described Kayla as "a lot like Jerry" and as "a girl who gunned for what she wanted to achieve but realizes that time and honesty is what will prevail in the end", as well as "a total goofball", the latter aspect which allowed Moretz to "lean into who [she is] in real life".[9] She also said Kayla is "a little unlikeable with some of the decisions she makes", yet she still wanted the character to feel likeable.[10] Moretz was inspired in her performance by Bob Hoskins' performance as Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, as well as by actresses Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, Lucille Ball, and Meg Ryan.[10]
  • Michael Peña as Terrance, the scheming deputy hotel manager of the hotel and Kayla's boss.
  • Colin Jost as Ben, the groom of the wedding that the hotel is planning and hosting.
  • Rob Delaney as Mr. DuBros, the wealthy hotel manager.
  • Ken Jeong as Jackie, a baker at the hotel.
  • Pallavi Sharda as Preeta, the bride of the wedding and Ben's future wife.
  • Jordan Bolger as Cameron, the hotel bartender.
  • Patsy Ferran as Dorothy
  • Christina Chong as Lola
  • Ajay Chhabra as Mr. Mehta

Voice cast

Additionally, Spike, Goldie the Goldfish and Toodles "Toots" Galore will also appear, as evidenced by a leaked footage on Framestore's website.[16]

Production

Development

Plans for a live-action Tom and Jerry film were announced in 2009 following the success of Alvin and the Chipmunks, and was to follow Tom and Jerry's origins over a Chicago backdrop. The film was to be produced by Dan Lin, from a script written by Eric Gravning.[17]

On April 6, 2015, plans shifted from a live-action film to a fully animated film, and was to stay "in the same vein as the source material".[18]

In October 2018, it was announced that Tim Story would direct a live-action/animated Tom and Jerry film for Warner Bros., which would begin filming in 2019. It was reported that Story was in discussions with Warner Bros. executives about what he was interested in directing, even before directing the new Shaft film. When the Tom and Jerry film was brought up, Story immediately "mentioned his admiration for the characters and how he’d love tackling that property."[19]

Casting

In March 2019, it was reported that Zoey Deutch and Olivia Cooke were frontrunners for the lead live-action role of Kayla, “who teams up with Tom to stop the pesky Jerry from ruining an important event for herself.” Additionally, Sofia Carson, Elle Fanning, Jennifer Lawrence, Ariel Winter, Naomi Scott, Meg Donnelly, Hailee Steinfeld, Yara Shahidi, Kelly Marie Tran, Becky G and Isabela Moner were all in consideration for the role.[20] Later that month, it was reported that Peter Dinklage was being considered for the role of Terrance, Kayla's boss and the human antagonist of the film.[21] In April, Chloë Grace Moretz was in final negotiations to star in the film.[22] In May 2019, Michael Peña joined the cast in the role Dinklage was eyed for.[23] Colin Jost, Ken Jeong, Rob Delaney, Jordan Bolger and Pallavi Sharda were added to the cast in July.[24][25] Patsy Ferran was revealed to be part of the cast in September 2019.[26]

In November 2020, Nicky Jam and Lil Rel Howery revealed that they have been cast in the film in voice roles.[11][13] On December 2, 2020, Jam revealed that he will be the voice of Butch Cat in the film.[12]

Filming

Principal photography began in July 2019 at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Hertfordshire, England.[27] Animators were present during filming, allowing cast members to improvise.[10] Filming ended before the industry's shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]

Animation

Animation services will be provided by Framestore, who hired 3D animators with a passion for 2D animation for the project. The strategy the animators used was to base the animation off a stylized 3D/CGI VFX modeling medium through a vintage 2D finish by creating innovative rigging, animation techniques used to create 2D animation, and custom tools such as lighting and rendering, resulting in the film's 3D/CGI animation maintaining the look, feel, and spirit of 2D animation, in the veins of the original classic shorts in the 1940s and 1950s.[29] The animators also used early Tom and Jerry shorts as reference and inspiration for the animation sequences.[30] Work on the animation was done remotely during the pandemic, with the filmmakers doing creative exploration on certain shots, and finalizing material through production groups.[31][28]

Music

On July 22, 2020, it was announced that Tim Story's recurring collaborator and composer Christopher Lennertz is set to compose the score of the film.[32]

Merchandise

On September 1, 2020, it was announced that Australian toy company Moose Toys made a deal with Warner Bros. to make merchandise for the film along with the upcoming sequel to Space Jam.[33]

Release

Tom & Jerry is set for release in the United States on February 26, 2021, by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters and on HBO Max.[34][7] It was originally scheduled to be released on April 16, 2021,[35] but was pushed up to December 23, 2020.[36] The film was then pushed back to March 5, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before moving up a week, where it will be theatrically released in RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, IMAX and IMAX 3D.[37]

Before the original release in America, the movie will debut in Netherlands on February 10, 2021, coincidentally, on the 81st anniversary of the titular characters since the 1940 cartoon, Puss Gets the Boot. Followed by Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Singapore on February 11, 2021. Iceland, India and Lithuania will receive it on February 19, 2021, while Russia and Slovakia will receive it on February 25, 2021 before America on February 26, 2021.[38]

Marketing

A float based on the movie appeared in the 94th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to promote the film.[39]

References
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