Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and New Line Cinema have officially moved forward with the long-awaited Hello Kitty movie, setting a release date of July 21, 2028.

The studio announced the update on Instagram on Wednesday, writing, “Hello Hollywood #Hello Kitty Movie is coming to theatres July 21, 2028!”

In a statement, the companies said the film will mark Hello Kitty’s first Hollywood theatrical appearance, promising an adventure featuring the beloved character and her friends for audiences of all ages.

Leo Matsuda will direct the film, with the latest script draft written by Dana Fox.

Matsuda previously directed the short Inner Workings and contributed as a story artist on titles including Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph.

Beau Flynn has spent nearly a decade securing rights to the character and will produce, with Shelby Thomas overseeing the project for FlynnPictureCo.

Hello Kitty first debuted in 1974 under Japan’s Sanrio, growing into a global pop-culture icon with merchandise lines, themed cafes, video games, clothing collaborations and a dedicated theme park.

The feature was first announced in 2019 and marks the first time Sanrio has granted film rights to the character.

It remains unclear whether Hello Kitty, officially named Kitty White, will speak in the movie, as she has traditionally remained silent in past animated productions.

Sanrio has also licensed other characters such as Gudetama, My Melody and Little Twin Stars, raising the possibility of their appearance in the film.