Rebel Wilson ‘Loved’ The Viral Response To First Cats Trailer

Cats Rebel Wilson staring into the camera, lying like a cat

Ever since director Tom Hooper’s Cats dropped its first trailer, there’s been a wide range of reactions unleashed by the internet. Some thought it was an interesting and refreshing look at a concept that was always bound to be a bit fantastical, while others have been downright scared of the combination of human and cat in the film’s visuals.

And in the background, tenting her hands like a Bond villain, is none other than Rebel Wilson, who has been absolutely loving the fact that a lot of chatter has stirred up about Cats, her next film to be released. Wilson went into greater detail, as follows:

When the trailer came out, the response was pretty massive. There’s some people who were like ‘Oh my god’ because it is brand-new technology that’s CGI. I think people get confused because it’s essentially a dance movie in a lot of ways. So it really is all our own bodies. And yes, they’re covered in fur. I think some people found it a bit creepy ’cause we’re people but we look a bit like cats dancing around. I loved the reaction. I think it was a bit polarizing and people will be super curious to see the finished product. What you got in that trailer was just some small samples of it, but it’s going to be such a big movie. And the cast is obviously incredible.

Thinking back to the Cats trailer, particularly with the context that Rebel Wilson has set above, it’s actually pretty brilliant to stir up such a reaction to the first look at the film’s digital fur approach. Crafting a hybrid of human and cat is obviously something that people will need to get used to, so a quick teaser trailer unveiling that look is the best, first step.

Undoubtedly, as Rebel Wilson told Cosmopolitan in her interview, Cats will more than likely have more eyes on it now that some are morbidly curious to see just how the full product plays out. As what we’ve already seen is apparently a small sample, which already has people questioning where exactly those tails are coming from, as well as why some have actual coats. There are tons of answers that could be had when seeing the finished film.

Overall, if you can get your movie to go viral, the chances are better that your film will get even more attention when it hits theaters. With Cats having a pre-established fanbase, a cast for the ages, and a prime prestige season release date, viral responses are a perfect multiplier to the hype that has started surrounding the film adaptation Andrew Lloyd Webber’s landmark musical.

Should you be interested to see some other reactions to the trailer to Cats, we’ve got some interesting videos you’d probably be delighted to see. First, check out our own Jeff McCobb and Sean O’Connell duking it out over whether the trailer is cool or creepy:

Then, from the other side of the table, you can see how Cats cast member Idris Elba reacted to his first look at the his character, Macavity, and the rest of the film’s cast, in the next video on offer:

Damn. We’re all just playing into Rebel Wilson’s digital paws at this point, aren’t we? Well played, Ms. Wilson. Well played.

Cats crawls into theaters and lets the memory live again on December 20.

Mike Reyes
Senior Movies Contributor

Mike Reyes is the Senior Movie Contributor at CinemaBlend, though that title’s more of a guideline really. Passionate about entertainment since grade school, the movies have always held a special place in his life, which explains his current occupation. Mike graduated from Drew University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, but swore off of running for public office a long time ago. Mike's expertise ranges from James Bond to everything Alita, making for a brilliantly eclectic resume. He fights for the user.