‘The Grinch’ Gets New Premiere Date; When Will Benedict Cumberbatch’s Holiday Movie Hit Theaters In 2018?

Looks like all the Whos in Whoville will have to wait one more year before the carving of the Roast Beast.

According to media reports, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Studios have pushed back the premiere date of “The Grinch,” a film based on Dr. Seuss’ 1957 children’s book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Instead of the flick hitting theaters Nov. 10, 2017, the holiday movie will be released Nov. 9, 2018.

The new premiere date gives an edge to the Christmas film starring the Oscar-nominated Benedict Cumberbatch. According to the Hollywood Reporter, if “The Grinch” launched in 2017, the heartwarming animated movie would have to compete against the Russian-spy drama “Red Sparrow,” starring Jennifer Lawrence. The new release date gives the festive movie more of a spotlight, given that no other pictures are currently scheduled to hit the big screen Nov. 9, 2018.

The animated film will star Cumberbatch as the green and grumpy villain. During the CinemaCon annual festival in April, producer Chris Meledandri revealed just why the “Sherlock” actor’s voice was perfect to portray the crooked protagonist. According to the Illumination Entertainment CEO, Cumberbatch’s voice exudes “comedic wickedness while embodying vulnerability.”

To be written by Michael LeSieur and directed by Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney, “The Grinch” will air 18 years after Ron Howard’s successful adaptation of the story. As Entertainment Weekly reported, the 2000 live-action film, starring Jim Carrey as the furry Mount Crumpit native, brought in $345 million at the box office.