A film based on the beloved Japanese toy HELLO KITTY  is being developed, which will bring her to the big screen for the first time in her 45-year history. 

New Line Cinema is teaming up with Sanrio and FlynnPictureCo for the English language film, which marks the only instance that Sanrio – the company behind the toy – has granted film rights to the character and her friends. New Line said it had spent almost five years trying to acquire the film rights. 

The announcement by New Line did not reveal whether the feature film will be animated, live-action, or both. It will include characters including Gudetama, the cracked egg character; the rabbit My Melody, and Little Twin Stars. 

“I am extremely pleased that Hello Kitty and other popular Sanrio characters will be making their Hollywood debut,” said Sanrio founder, president and CEO Shintaro Tsuji.

“Hello Kitty has long been a symbol of friendship and we hope this film will only serve to grow that circle of friendship around the world.”