Idris Elba is Joining The Film Adaptation of the Broadway Musical CATS
Here’s a crazy unexpected piece of casting news! Idris Elba is in talks to join director Tom Hooper’s feature film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit Broadway musical Cats. This is the last film I ever thought I’d seen Elba join, but here we are.
According to Deadline, Elba will be taking on the role of the famed feline Macavity. For those of you not familiar with the characters role in the story, he’s the villain and this is a description:
Macavity is the only real villain in the musical who kidnaps Old Deuteronomy, the Jellicle leader, and attempts to abduct Demeter, one of two cats who sings about him. The character was originally portrayed by Richard Pettyfer in the original West End production, and by Kenneth Ard in the Broadway production. Macavity also has a hypnotic power. In Act II, there are two songs about him: “Macavity: The Mystery Cat” sung by Demeter, Bombalurina, and female feline back-up; and “Macavity Fight” performed by Macavity, Demeter, Munkustrap and Alonzo.
The actor will join the previously cast Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, James Corden, Laurie Davidson and Mette Towley. This is quite an all-star cast and I’m really curious to see how this movie is going to turn out, especially the visuals. After all, all of these actors are going to be portraying cats.
The musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make what is known as "the Jellicle choice" and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. The plot is actually pretty insane.
The screenplay for the film is being written by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) and I’m kinda looking forward to it. My dad did a lot of musical theater when I was growing up so I’m very familiar with these Broadway musicals and Cats may be a weird one, but it is filled with some wonderful music.
So, after Elba is done playing a badass villain in Hobbs and Shaw, he might just end up dressing up in a Cat suit to play the villain in Cats. What do you all think about Elba taking on this role?
If you want an idea of what Elba’s character is like in the play, here’s a video featuring the fight sequence that involves Macavity. While you watch this, I’m sure many of you will be thinking… WTF!?