Illumination releases the first trailer for The Grinch, their upcoming animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! children's book. Dr. Seuss' classic holiday tale has been adapted twice before, once as a half-hour animated TV special in 1966 with narration by Boris Karloff, and again in 2000 by Ron Howard in the Jim Carrey-starring live-action film. Now, Illumination will adapt How the Grinch Stole Christmas! in a feature-length animated movie set to hit theaters this holiday season.

Since being founded in 2007, Illumination Entertainment has made a name for itself as an animation studio with a string of hits, including its Despicable Me trilogy. The trilogy spawned the Minions spinoff that earned more than $1 billion, becoming the studio's first film to hit that mark - though not its last, as Despicable Me 3 was similarly successful at the box office in 2017. Illumination's other projects have included The Secret Life of Pets and Sing, as well as fellow Dr. Seuss adaptation The Lorax. Now, fans of the studio's animated fare can get a look at its next upcoming film with the first trailer for The Grinch.

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Illumination released the first trailer for The Grinch, which can be viewed above, after teasing its arrival yesterday with a poster featuring the Grinch and Max, the Grinch's canine friend. The film follows the infamous Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, who plots to ruin Christmas for Whoville. Meanwhile, young Cindy-Lou Who schemes with her friends to trap Santa Claus in order to thank him for spreading Christmas cheer - for her especially as the daughter of a single mother.

This first trailer for The Grinch understandably focuses on the titular character in Illumination's adaptation of Dr. Seuss' children's book. With the Grinch waking up grumpily to "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, letting Max bring him a French pressed coffee with a sad face, and choosing between fur pants labeled "wretched," "nasty," and "very miserable," it's exactly what fans would expect of the Grinch's morning ritual. The trailer also features the Grinch and Max venturing into Whoville for some provisions, torturing the Whos - and being tortured by their Christmas decorations - along the way.

The major aspect of the upcoming animated movie The Grinch trailer doesn't showcase is Cindy-Lou Who, who will be a major part of the storyline according to the film's official synopsis. But, with Cindy-Lou focused primarily on her sheme to thank Santa, it's possible she won't cross paths with the Grinch right away. Curiously, the trailer also doesn't confirm any other members of the voice cast for The Grinch, with only Cumberbatch voicing the titular character in this promo.

So, though The Grinch trailer gives us a good look at what to expect from the mean, green lead character, there's still a great deal about this film we don't know. That said, with The Grinch not hitting theaters until November, there's plenty of time for Illumination to reveal the rest of the cast and characters in the months ahead. Until then, this first trailer for The Grinch should get fans excited to revisit the world of one of Dr. Seuss' most famous characters.

Next: How Illumination Entertainment Became An Animation Powerhouse

Source: Illumination

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