Grinch Returns! Jim Carrey and Ron Howard Eye Sequel Comeback
A sequel to the 2000 box office hit "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is in development, with Jim Carrey and Ron Howard in talks to return. Carrey has expressed interest, preferring motion capture technology over the original film's arduous makeup process. A new writing team is attached to pen the script.
Universal and Imagine Entertainment are actively developing a sequel to the immensely popular 2000 film, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” with potential returns for both its star, Jim Carrey, and director, Ron Howard. The original movie, a family blockbuster, achieved significant box office success, earning over $350 million, a considerable sum for its time. Brian Grazer, co-founder of Imagine Entertainment alongside Howard, is also expected to join the project once again as a producer.
While discussions are still underway and the project’s future is not yet fully confirmed, the re-involvement of these key figures indicates strong momentum for the sequel. If the production moves forward, the screenplay will be crafted by a notable writing team consisting of Alec Berg, known for his contributions to “Barry” and “Silicon Valley,” Jeff Schaffer, recognized for “Life, Larry and The Pursuit of Unhappiness,” and David Mandel, acclaimed for his work on “Veep.” This trio shares a common professional history, having all been veterans of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” It is also worth noting their prior collaboration on another Dr. Seuss adaptation, the ill-fated “The Cat in the Hat,” which starred Mike Myers and was nominated for several Razzie Awards, ultimately winning “Worst Excuse for an Actual Movie (All Concept/No Content).”
Jim Carrey, a prominent star throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, has maintained a less active presence in Hollywood in recent years. However, he is slated to reprise his role as Dr. Robotnik in the upcoming 2027 film “Sonic the Hedgehog 4.” Carrey has previously expressed his willingness to return as the Grinch, albeit with a specific condition: he hopes to utilize motion capture technology for the character, thereby avoiding the grueling and extensive makeup process he endured for the first film. In a 2024 interview with ComicBook.com, Carrey articulated his experience, stating, “Oh, gosh, you know, if we could figure out the Grinch... The thing about it is, on the day, I do that with a ton of makeup and can hardly breathe. It was an extremely excruciating process. The children were in my mind all the time. ‘It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids.’ And now, with motion capture and things like that, I could be free to do other things. Anything is possible in this world.”
The narrative of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” was also adapted into a successful 2018 animated movie titled “The Grinch,” produced by Universal and Illumination Entertainment, which similarly garnered significant commercial success.
Various executives are overseeing the development of this new project. Susan Brandt, CEO, will manage the initiative for Dr. Seuss Enterprises. On behalf of Universal, Senior Vice President of Production Development and Special Projects Britt Hennemuth and Creative Executive Christina Hoffrogge are responsible for oversight. The initial news regarding this developing “Grinch” sequel was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The individuals and entities involved are represented by top agencies: Ron Howard by CAA and Greenberg Glusker; Jim Carrey by WME and attorney Deborah Klein; Alec Berg by UTA and HJTH; Jeff Schaffer by UTA and HJTH; David Mandel by WME and HJTH; Imagine Entertainment by CAA; and Dr. Seuss Enterprises by CAA.