Hello Kitty is headed to Hollywood for her big screen debut

A woman dressed up like Marilyn Monroe with Hello Kitty.
(Image credit: Yoshikatsu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)

Hello Kitty is ready for her close-up.

She's one of the world's most recognizable characters, and 45 years after her debut, Hello Kitty will finally star in her first-ever English language movie. After five years of talks, the character's maker, Sanrio, has granted New Line Cinema the film rights to Hello Kitty and pals, Variety reports.

Ever since she first appeared on a coin purse in the 1970s, Hello Kitty has been a worldwide hit, a massive pop culture icon known for her perfectly placed bow. Her image is on everything from backpacks to pencils and toasters to wine bottles, and Sanrio has collaborated with several other brands, including Vans, Converse, Sephora, and Tokidoki.

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It's not clear yet if this will be an animated or live-action film, and the studio is now looking for writers and creative talent. Hello Kitty does not have a mouth, and thus has never talked, so this should be interesting.

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