Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’ Gets a Marching Band Makeover in ‘The Cat in the Hat’

Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" is joining the mischief in The Cat in the Hat. The new animated adventure features a rendition of the pop hit with the USC Trojan Marching Band, bringing a familiar tune into Dr. Seuss's unpredictable world.

CBR has teased a conversation with directors Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni about how Swift's music found its way into the film. The song joins a musical programme that includes an original score by Lorne Balfe and a theme song written by Tim Minchin.

Music was an early priority for the filmmakers. In a statement accompanying the soundtrack announcement, Rivinoja and Carloni said they wanted music that reflected the Cat's personality, describing him as "an agent of chaos, a lover of joy and silliness." Minchin's theme song is performed by FITZ and Minchin, with Bill Hader contributing in character as the Cat.

Hader leads the film as the troublesome feline, whose latest assignment involves cheering up Gabby and Sebastian, two siblings struggling after a move to a new town. His tendency to take things too far puts more than the children's home at risk: failure could cost him his magical hat.

The voice cast also includes Xochitl Gomez, Tiago Martinez, Quinta Brunson, Matt Berry, America Ferrera, Giancarlo Esposito and Bowen Yang. Rivinoja and Carloni direct from their own screenplay, expanding the familiar children's book into a larger adventure about imagination and connection.

The Cat in the Hat opens in North American cinemas and IMAX on November 6, 2026, with its international rollout beginning November 4.