Laurie Davidson Joins the Film Adaptation of CATS

Laurie Davidson has joined the cast of CATS, according to Deadline. The Universal Pictures and Working Title film is based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic hit musical.

There is no word yet who Davidson will be playing in the film, but he joins a cast that includes Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, James Corden and Ian McKellen.

Davidson is best known for starring as William Shakespeare in TNT's series "Will." He also appeared in the "The Good Liar" starring Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren.

Tom Hooper will direct the project for Working Title pictures which is set to begin shooting in November in London. Hooper's big screen adaptation of LES MISERABLES was a box office smash and went on to win three OSCARS and was nominated for five others, including Best Picture.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed a new song for the adaptation, which would be sung by the kitten Victoria. The composer is also toying with the idea of adding more new numbers to the score.

Cats made its return to Broadway last summer at the Neil Simon Theatre and was also recently staged at the London Palladium for a limited 12-week run, starring former Pussycat Doll singer Nicole Scherzinger in the role of 'Grizabella'.

Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," the original Broadway production opened in 1982 at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre, where it ran for 7,485 performances and 18 years. Cats was originally produced on Broadway by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Company Limited, David Geffen, and The Shubert Organization.

Since its world premiere, Cats has been presented in over 30 countries, has been translated into 15 languages, and has been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide. Originally directed by Trevor Nunn with choreography and associate direction by Gillian Lynne, scenic and costume design by John Napier, lighting design by David Hersey, and sound design by Martin Levan, Cats opened in the West End in 1981. The same creative team brought the musical to Broadway in 1982 where it won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Both the original London and Broadway cast recordings won GRAMMY AWARDS for Best Cast Album. Cats hit song "Memory" has been recorded by over 150 artists from Barbra Streisand and Johnny Mathis to Liberace and Barry Manilow.

The Tony Award-winning Best Musical held the title of longest-running musical in Broadway history until it was surpassed in 2006 by LES MISERABLES and later by Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The original Broadway production closed on September 10, 2000 and is currently the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history.

Read the original article on Deadline.