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Cats star Jason Derulo thought musical flop was "gonna change the world"

From Digital Spy

Cats wasn't exactly the huge critical and commercial success that director Tom Hooper and the very starry cast might have hoped it would be, after the adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage show was mauled pretty much all round.

But singer Jason Derulo, who played vain and rebellious feline Rum Tum Tugger in the musical, has admitted that while making the movie he was convinced it was "gonna change the world".

Speaking to The Telegraph, Derulo revealed that he had thought Rum Tum Tugger would be a "perfect" first acting role for him and that he thought the film would be a massive success.

Photo credit: Universal
Photo credit: Universal

Related: The Cats critical pile-on has colossally missed the point

"For the longest time, I was trying to figure out what's the perfect first role?" he said. "Cats checked all the boxes. You can't get a more star-studded cast, you don't get a more respected director than an Oscar winner, and Rum Tum Tugger is a legacy role, a standout character in a classic musical.

"Even when I saw the trailer, I thought it looked unbelievable. Like, I know some people saw it and they were terrified, but I got chills down my spine! I thought it was gonna change the world."

Of course that didn't happen, with the poor reviews and underwhelming box office leading to the film's awards campaign being dropped.

But Derulo isn't bitter about it, saying that he has learned from the experience.

Photo credit: Universal
Photo credit: Universal

Related: Cats ending explained – what the hell just happened?

"It didn't pan out," he said. "With all things that leftfield, it could either be considered genius or bat**** crazy. That's the risk you take. It taught me a lesson.

"You can't wait for the perfect moment, cause that might not be your moment. So you've just got to go for gold. That's how I'll move forward."

Derulo also defended the movie when it was first released in December, calling it an "incredible, brave piece of art".

"When it came out on Broadway it was the same thing, people were like, 'What is this? This is something totally different'," adding, "reviewers, what the hell do they know? Have they made a film ever in their life?"

Cats also starred Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Rebel Wilson, Taylor Swift and James Corden.


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