The Cat in the Hat and Hilary Duff’s Lizzie McGuire were both big parts of my childhood, so seeing those two worlds come together feels like a blast from the past. Duff is making music and touring again, while the Cat is gearing up for his first fully animated theatrical movie. Now, Duff is adding to the fun with an original song for the film.
Warner Bros. released a new trailer for The Cat in the Hat this week, showing off new clips from the animated film while giving us a sneak peek at Duff's new song, "CATastrophe," which has since been released in full.
Created by Dr. Seuss, the Cat in the Hat is one of the most recognizable characters in children’s literature. Surprisingly, though, this will be his first fully animated theatrical adventure. He previously appeared in the 1971 animated TV special and the 2003 live-action movie starring Mike Myers, but this time, Bill Hader is voicing the mischievous feline.
We can expect plenty of the Cat’s signature silly hijinks and zaniness, but the new movie also explores his backstory. It turns out he works for the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, which sends him to help two siblings, Gabby and Sebastian, adjust to a new town. But with a habit of taking things too far, the Cat could lose his magical hat if he messes up this assignment.
Meet the Cat in the Hat you don’t know! In the wonderfully whimsical tradition of Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat comes to the big screen in his animated theatrical feature film debut, an all-new, epic adventure with an edge, where mischief, magic and mayhem reign supreme. Doing what he does best, the Cat—voiced by Bill Hader—spreads joy to kids in his hilarious, signature and singularly irreverent way, transporting them and audiences on a fantastical journey through a world they’ve never seen before.
In the film, our hero takes on his toughest assignment yet for the I.I.I.I. (Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC): to cheer Gabby and Sebastian, a pair of siblings struggling with their move to a new town. Known for taking things too far, this could be this agent of chaos’s last chance to prove himself...or lose his magical hat!
The Cat in the Hat stars Bill Hader as the voice for the Cat. He's joined alongside Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, and Paula Pell, and featuring Tiago Martinez, Giancarlo Esposito, America Ferrera, Bowen Yang, and Tituss Burgess. The film is directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni from their own screenplay, with a story by Caroline Williams.
As for Duff’s new song, “CATastrophe,” the full track and official music video are out now, bringing the singer and actress into the world of Dr. Seuss. And honestly, some of the lyrics sound like they have a cheeky double meaning that will probably go right over kids’ heads.
The Cat in the Hat arrives in theaters and IMAX across North America on November 6, 2026.