Dreamworks has released the first trailer for their new animated feature, Puss in Boots. It’s a spin-off of their popular Shrek franchise with the swashbuckling cat, voiced by Antonio Banderas, taking center stage.  The emphasis seems to be on action and adventure and less of the scene-stealing cat holding his hat in his hand and giving us the big “black velvet painting” sad eyes. He’s joined in this romp, a prequel that takes place before Puss ever met Shrek, by Salma Hayak, who plays Kitty Softpaws and Zach Galifianakis as Humpty Dumpty.

Dreamworks’ official synopsis: “Puss In Boots - one of the most beloved characters of the Shrek universe – tells the hilarious and courageous (daring, bold, brave) tale of Puss’s (Antonio Banderas) early adventures as he teams with mastermind Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and the street-savvy Kitty (Salma Hayek) to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs.”

Hayak seems to be playing Kitty Softpaws as a sort of femme fatale slash Bond Girl, but I think we both know there will probably be some feline nuzzling between Kitty and Puss at some point. He’ll also be joined by Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris) and Constance Marie (“Switched at Birth”, “George Lopez”) as Imelda. The flick is directed by Chris Miller (Shrek the Third) and exec produced by Guillermo del Toro for a November 4 release in the US & Canada, 9 December in the UK.

There are two versions of the poster, but I must say my favorite is the the one that reads “Pray for Mercy”.  Dreamworks is, of course,  courting the adult audience as well as the kidlets. I could listen to Antonio Banderas read the phone book (preferably while feeding me grapes, but you can’t have everything) and this looks like a lot of fun, so I’m in. You?