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Cats creator Andrew Lloyd-Webber slams movie adaptation and blames director Tom Hooper

Photo credit: Universal
Photo credit: Universal

From Digital Spy

Andrew Lloyd-Webber has revealed his thoughts on the movie adaptation of Cats and why he found it so "ridiculous".

The film is based on the legendary stage show written by Lloyd-Webber and marked director Tom Hooper's return to musical cinema following his Oscar-winning adaptation of Les Misérables.

But despite its huge success on Broadway and the West End, Cats totally flunked as a feature film – debuting last year to notoriously awful reviews, sweeping the virtual Razzie Awards in March and deterring its own all-star cast from watching it.

Photo credit: Universal Pictures
Photo credit: Universal Pictures

Related: Cats sweeps Razzie Awards including Worst Picture and win for James Corden

Speaking recently, Lloyd-Webber revealed what he believes went wrong with the film – and he thinks it's all Hooper's fault.

"The problem with the film was that Tom Hooper decided, as he had with Les Mis, that he didn't want anybody involved in it who was involved in the original show," Webber told The Times.

"The whole thing was ridiculous."

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

Related: Cats' 'Butthole Cut' gets hilarious and traumatic parody trailer

Based on a collection of poems by TS Eliot, the big-screen version of Cats was even mocked by its stars Rebel Wilson and James Corden at the BAFTAs and the Oscars earlier this year.

One of the surprising legacies of the film has been the fan campaign for the mythical "Butthole Cut" of Cats to be released, following reports that an early version of the movie included some (unintentional?) feline rear ends.

Sadly, it doesn't look like we'll ever get to the bottom of it.

Cats is now available to buy from Prime Video UK, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Google Play and other UK streaming sites.


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