The planned movie version of 'Cats' is set to use CGI to create the feline characters on screen.

Tom Hooper

Tom Hooper

Tom Hooper - who was responsible for making the 'Les Misérables' film - is to direct the big screen adaptation of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed stage musical show.

Modern filming techniques such as motion capture and computer imagery are to be used to bring the story to life.

An executive involved in the project told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Do you somehow use actors, sophisticated puppets, CGI - or what? That's the point of the exercise. We hope to be able to answer all of those questions, following a long period of research."

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.

It is understood that Hooper is using old literature to get a better understanding of the story - in particular T.S Elliot's 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' - from which the poems are said to have inspired Lloyd Webber who produced the show alongside Cameron Mackintosh.

Rumor has it that Hooper wants to cast Suki Waterhouse in the film, though no official announcement has been made.

Should full production be granted, shooting on 'Cats' fans could start next year.

'Cats' was created by musical mastermind Webber in 1981 and is the fourth-longest running musical in the history of London's West End.

Last year, former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger was seen in the role of Grizabella the glamour cat for a 12-week run at the London Palladium.

Tagged in