Despite seeming too surreal to be true, it turns out that rumored “butthole cut” of Cats actually exists. In a new tell-all expose featured on the Daily Beast, sources close to the production (choosing to remain anonymous so they don’t lose their jobs) revealed that the fabled sphincter version of Cats was very much a real thing until nearly the last minute.
As one source recalls, “We paused it. We went to call our supervisor, and we’re like, ‘There’s a fucking asshole in there! There’s buttholes!’ It wasn’t prominent but you saw it.” The source claims this wasn’t some joke gone too far or even an artistic statement for asses, but a visual effect that slipped through the crack (ha!).
Making matters worse, these same sources claim director Tom Hooper was a complete asshole to work under. Seemingly not understanding how visual effects work, Hooper allegedly yelled at artists, saying “What’s this garbage?” and “I don’t understand. Where’s the fur?” Maybe the sneaky posteriors were added in because Hooper wanted to properly convey his own personality on film.
It’s a fairly harrowing read, all things considered. Hooper really does come off like an entitled jerk. Still, the silver lining is that somewhere out there, the “butthole cut” exists. Maybe one day, we’ll get to see it.
Editing the Buttholes Out of ‘Cats‘ Was a Total Nightmare for VFX Crew [The Daily Beast]
