It looks like Jim Carrey might be ready to don the green fuzz and sinister smile of the Grinch once again—but only if modern technology can make the process a bit less… well, torturous. Carrey, who played the grouchy holiday anti-hero in Ron Howard’s 2000 hit How the Grinch Stole Christmas, has hinted he’d be game for a sequel—on one major condition.
“It’s for the kids,” But Maybe Without the Pain
In an interview with ComicBook ahead of the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Carrey was asked which character he’d love to reprise. Unsurprisingly, the Grinch topped his list—but not without reservations.
“Oh, gosh, you know, if we could figure out the Grinch,” Carrey said. “Back then, doing it with all that makeup and hardly being able to breathe was excruciating. I just kept telling myself, ‘It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids.’ But now, with motion capture and modern technology, I could be free to do so much more. Anything is possible.”
Translation: Jim Carrey is game, but only if we leave the latex masks and hours-long makeup chair nightmares in 2000 where they belong.
The Seussian Rules of Engagement
Of course, before anyone gets too excited about a Grinch sequel, let’s remember the strict rules laid down by Dr. Seuss’s estate. Back in the day, Audrey Geisel, the late author’s widow, made sure the 2000 film came with some serious strings attached. Studios had to cough up $5 million just for the rights and agree to give the Seuss estate a cut of 4% of box office takings, 50% of merchandising, and a whopping 70% of book tie-ins.
Geisel also got to approve the director and writer, requiring that they already had at least $1 million in earnings under their belts—because no rookie was going to mess with her husband’s legacy. When it came to casting, the actor playing the Grinch had to meet some very specific requirements in height and frame, with big names like Jack Nicholson and Robin Williams in the running before Carrey snagged the gig.
From Mean One to Modern Motion Capture
Carrey’s original portrayal of the Grinch earned heaps of praise, but it’s clear he’s not eager to endure the same grueling process a second time. With advancements in motion capture technology, Carrey’s suggestion to ditch the prosthetics could breathe fresh life (and air) into the character.
It’s worth noting that Carrey’s no stranger to CGI these days, with his role as Dr. Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog films. You can catch him back in action when Sonic the Hedgehog 3 speeds into cinemas on December 20th.
Who knows? If the Grinch sequel gets the green light and modern tech takes the edge off, we might see Jim Carrey stealing Christmas once again—this time, with a little less sweat and a lot more fun.
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