The famous cartoon rivals are back at it again in the first trailer for Tom and Jerry: The Movie, currently scheduled to release on March 5, 2021. The film returns to the classic portrayal of the characters as mute save for a few vocal effects, a decision likely made due to the controversial decision to have the characters speak normally in the 1992 feature film (also titled Tom and Jerry: The Movie). It is directed by Tim Story (the Fantastic Four and Ride Along films) and produced by Warner Animation Group and Warner Bros. UK.
The film deals with the pair moving to New York City after Tom is removed from his position as house cat and abandoned by his previous owners. Jerry takes up residence in a fancy hotel, where he threatens to ruin the “wedding of the century” which will be taking place there in just a few days. Wedding planner Kayla (Chloe Grace Moretz) hires Tom to get rid of Jerry before the wedding, but her entire career is soon put in danger as the pair return to their usual slapstick hi-jinks.
The film will feature Tom, Jerry and other animals as CGI creations alongside live action characters and settings. In addition to Moretz, the film will also star Michael Pena and Rob Delaney as the managers of the hotel, Ken Jeong as a chef, Jordan Bolger as a bartender, and Pallavi Sharda and Colin Jost as the bride and groom. Archived vocal footage of William Hanna, Mel Blanc and June Foray will be used for the animal noises produced by Tom and Jerry, with Frank Welker providing additional vocalizations.
The project will be the first feature film to star Tom and Jerry since the 2005 short The Karate Guard, which saw a limited release in Los Angeles theaters. It was originally announced in 2009 before being re-imagined in 2018 as a live action / computer animation hybrid. The film was delayed from its original December 2020 release date due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
