Bill Hader voices corporate Cat in new animated film

Bill Hader voices the titular character in a new animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic story, hitting theaters on Friday, Nov. 6. In this version, the Cat is depicted as a corporate employee. His current assignment involves making two siblings happy on a rainy move-in day. To accomplish this, he recruits a large group of helpers, known as the Things, numbered from one through 46.

The cast members recently spoke with Deco about their roles and the production process. They introduced a fictional language called Thinglish, which serves as the native tongue for the Thing characters. Xochitl Gomez, who voices one of the main siblings, explained that a choreographer named Chris Scott designed specific movements for the language. She noted that these gestures carry distinct meanings, such as words for fish.

Tiago Martinez, who voices another character, added that other gestures represent concepts like time and the present moment. The actors also shared personal talents during the interview. Gomez demonstrated a cricket sound, while Martinez mimicked the voice of Perry the Platypus. Hader asked if they could whistle and hum simultaneously, to which Gomez jokingly replied that aliens had arrived.

The film features a workplace subplot involving the Cat's wife and his boss. Quinta Brunson voices the wife, while Giancarlo Esposito provides the voice for the boss. Brunson said she drew inspiration from her previous job at BuzzFeed, noting that the atmosphere felt similar to the office environment in the movie. Esposito confirmed he also channeled his office experience, stating he had to learn how to be appropriate in various situations.

America Ferrera voices a single mother in the film, and Paula Pell plays a nosy landlady. Both actresses praised the project during the chat. Ferrera said she was surprised by how Hader handled the iconic character, noting that he made the Cat lovable despite different audience perceptions. Pell expressed her love for the film's heart, physical humor, and subtle adult jokes.

The new version reimagines the original story with a modern corporate setting. The Things act as a support team for the Cat in his work-related tasks. The film is set to open in cinemas this week.