Benedict Cumberbatch‘s new embodiment of ‘The Grinch’ is coming to steal Christmas, but can he steal your three-sizes too small heart? Or at least sway any naysayers who don’t think there is room for another ‘Grinch’ movie?
Well, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures certainly hope so. They have released a new trailer and have also announced that the film is getting another shot of hip hop. Pharrell Williams, whose inescapable (no matter how hard you tried) single ‘Happy’ was spawned from Hell featured in the Illumination/Universal movie ‘Despicable Me 2’ is contributing to ‘The Grinch’ as the narrator. The original 1966 animated special was famously narrated by Boris Karloff. In addition to ‘Happy’, Williams wrote the scores for all three ‘Despicable Me’ films and contributed additional songs. ‘Happy’ also popped up briefly in an earlier ‘Grinch’ trailer.
He will not participate musically on ‘The Grinch’– at least not that has yet been announced. Instead, Danny Elfman (‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’) is composing the score. Grammy nominated rapper Tyler, the Creator will contribute an original song, ‘I Am The Grinch’, and collaborated with Elfman on an update of the classic ‘You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch’. Originally featured in the ’66 special, the anti-carol was written by Dr. Seuss himself, Theodor Geisel and composer Albert Hague, with vocals by Thurl Ravenscroft (not Karloff, as is often mistaken).
The updated version is heard in the new trailer for ‘The Grinch’. This clip is a bit broader than earlier clips which had more small comical vignettes. Instead, it focuses on the title antagonist’s mission to steal Christmas, or more specifically, it details how the new movie updates this exploit.
Williams’ voice isn’t heard in the new clip, but since it was just announced that he was joining, he probably hasn’t even started recording yet.
Check it out below:
‘The Grinch’, directed by Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier, will sneak into theaters on November 9, 2018.
