That Benedict Cumberbatch fella is making the rounds in the nerdy-nostalgia world. Not only has he portrayed Sherlock Holmes, John Harrison Khan Noonien Singh, a number of spies (one of whom is a wolf), and a G-D dragon,this year ol’ Cumberbuns will play the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Doctor Strange. He’s kind of the go-to guy when people are thinking of franchises, and now he can add another beloved favorite to his list of roles, even if he is a little green under the gills: Dr. Seuss‘ Christmas-hating mean one, the Grinch!
During a presentation at this year’s CinemaCon, Illumination Entertainment, the same company that brought you Despicable Me and Minions revealed the new animated film based on the beloved Seuss classic—How the Grinch Stole Christmas—which is headed for release November 10, 2017 from Illumination and Universal. Cumberbatch will lend his distinct English growl to the character who spends most of the story taking odd-named toys and trinkets from the homes of sleeping Whos.
During the presentation, the first image for the film was also revealed.
There have famously been two other adaptations of the story; in 1966, Chuck Jones animated a TV special which starred the great Boris Karloff as both the Grinch and the narrator, from which we got the awesome-sauce song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”; and in 2000, Ron Howard directed a live-action version starring Jim Carrey and narrated by Anthony Hopkins.
From the sound of it just from the casting, Cumberbatch will be more in the Karloff vein than the Carrey one, and we’re excited to see what Illumination does with the world of Dr. Seuss. And, you can bet a new ride or nine at Universal Studios resorts sooner or later.
What do you think about Benedict Cumberbatch playing the Grinch? Is his soul also an appalling dung heap, overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots? Let us know below!
And look at our breakdown of that fresh young Doctor Strange trailer!
Images: CBS/Paramount, Illumination/Universal
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow him on Twitter!
