Robbie on pointe to be top cat

DIRECTOR Tom Hooper has turned to the ballet world to cast a major meow of a part in the Cats film, which goes before the cameras in ten days’ time.

He and producers at Working Title have picked American ballet star Robbie Fairchild to take on the part of senior tabby Munkustrap.

Fairchild was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet before he left to pursue other projects and broaden his horizons.

He starred in An American In Paris on Broadway — and also at London’s Dominion Theatre — and has appeared in several musical concerts in the U.S.

Director Hooper has also plucked Royal Ballet star Francesca Hayward from her Covent Garden base.

She has been rehearsing with other Cats cast members Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, James Corden and Rebel Wilson.

Taylor Swift is due to arrive in the UK soon to prepare for her part in the film.

Fairchild will take on a lot of dancing in the movie. He’s a top cat: number two in the hierarchy behind Old Deuteronomy — who, in a spot of gender-swap casting, will be played by Judi Dench (as we revealed).

One of Munkustrap’s tasks is to lead Old D into the spotlight, and to make sure she’s feelin’ good.

The film will feature the score Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote for the original 1981 London stage show, which was based on T.S. Eliot’s collection of poems, Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats.

Director Hooper told me that he and screenwriter Lee Hall have ‘opened out’ the story, which will be shot at Leavesden Studios, near Watford, Herts.

Universal will release the picture in December 2019.