New ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ with Benedict Cumberbatch delayed to 2018
Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s planned CG animated feature based on Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, has been delayed.
The new Grinch film was originally set for November 10th 2017 release, but has been pushed back a full year to November 9th 2018.
The reason as to why the film is pushed back is uncertain but being a Christmas movie means that any delay would force it a year back to meet the same time frame for audiences.
Cumberbatch voices the title role in the newly-imagined version of the enduring holiday classic. Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney helm the new take which Michael LeSieur is penning the adaptation of the book.
First published in 1957, the Dr. Seuss tale follows the adventures of a curmudgeonly Grinch who, despising Christmas, decides to sneak into a nearby city, Whoville, and steal every decoration in an effort to spoil the holiday. What he finds instead is the true meaning of the holiday.
The switch to a November 9th, 2018 release provides How The Grinch Stole Christmas with first claim to the spot, meaning that its release will not (as of this writing) have to compete with any other big name film(s).
This animated version will mark only the second time that the iconic Dr. Seuss tale has been made into a feature, with the first being 2000’s Ron Howard-directed and Jim Carrey-led live-action film of the same name. That effort grossed over $300 million worldwide despite critics’ negative reception.
Cumberbatch plays the titular sorcerer in Marvel’s Doctor Strange, due in theaters Nov. 4.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas will now arrive in theaters on November 9th 2018.