Studio:
Universal Pictures.
Production Company:
Imagine Entertainment.
Project Phase: In Development.
Who's In It:
Jim Carrey (The Grinch, unsigned but in serious negotiations).
Who's Making It:
Ron Howard (Director); Brian Grazer (Producer); based on the book How the Grinch
Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss.
Premise: A creature with a heart two sizes too small, the Grinch attempts to spoil Christmas for the Whos in Whoville by disguising himself as Santa and stealing all the Who gifts, trees and holiday food.
Release Date: Christmas 1999 (tentative).
Comments: Look out Dreamworks and Fox 'cuz Universal is now the #1 contender for the childrens market. With Dudley Do-Right on-the-way and Curious George on the backburner, they'll try to take a bite out of Uncle Walt's pie.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
[Page draft submitted by the Whoville Mayor, 'Deadpool'.]
September 19, 1998... On September 16th Daily Variety reports that Universal has landed the rights to the Dr. Seuss' book How the Grinch Stole Christmas and plans to develop it as a live-action feature with Jim Carrey attached to star. Ron Howard will direct, and his Universal-based Imagine Films company will produce. The deal that Universal swing to land the Grinch rights is said to be one of the richest deals ever made in Hollywood.
The film will be placed on a fasttrack for an intended Christmas 1999 release date, although that might be optimistic. Universal will pay an upfront rights fee approaching $5 million to Audrey Geisel, the widow of Theodor Geisel, who wrote under the pen name of Dr. Seuss.
The incredible deal that Daily Variety reported has a huge backend clause for Giesel's widow and estate. She stands to make around 4% of gross profits from the first dollar earned at the box office, and an unprecedented merchandising and soundtrack income Daily Variety sources said approach the 50% range. That huge fact made Universal's deal stand out from the other bidders (Fox, DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Disney). It was said that Fox's bid placed Jack Nicholson in the role of the Grinch. The Farrelly brothers, creators of this summer's smash comedy hit There's Something About Mary, also pitched their idea for a Grinch film with Carrey in the role. However, in the end Universal got it based on its one-two-three strategy of Howard, Carrey and the financial incentive package. Right now the biggest player in the forming project is Howard: if he walks away from directing it, the whole deal falls through.
In all, the Grinch live-action project has the shapings to be of major interest if it moves ahead. If it does, it will become the first major player for the holiday '99 box office sweepstakes. [Scoop provided by 'Deadpool'; originally appeared in Daily Vairety.]
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