Everyone loves the Grinch, right? Dr. Seuss’ 1957 children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas, famously adapted into a 1966 animated film, is a stone cold holiday classic. Even the 2000 live-action adaptation starring Jim Carrey as the green grouch has aged surprisingly well, and is a strikingly strange and ambitious Christmas movie. But, we’ve had 17 Grinchless years since, so Universal has decided to remedy that with The Grinch.
Apart from the title character being voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, we don’t really know too much about what the studio has in store for us here. What little we can tell you, however, comes courtesy of Illumination Entertainment CEO Chris Meledandri, who spoke to Deadline in April 2016, when he laid out how they’re differentiating themselves from previous adaptations:
“I think that the essence of this film is the notion of this cynicism comedically expressed in the Grinch and this absolute innocence represented in Cindy Lou, on a collision course with one another through the course of this movie. It’s the simple question of whether or not innocence can transform cynicism. The beauty of that simplicity for me is what’s at the heart of the movie.”
Honestly, that doesn’t sound too dissimilar from what we saw in the 1966 and 2000 outings. He goes to explain though that the rough animation tests of the Grinch “have an undeniable appeal.” Taking a look at this first poster, I can’t deny that he looks recognizably Grinchy. But there’s a safeness and predictability to this image that belies the risks taken by the previous two adaptations. Let’s hope that Universal’s new take on the character doesn’t sand away too much of his cynical and grumpy edges.
Look for The Grinch to open on November 9th, 2018.
