INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

Benedict Cumberbatch, On Role Choices From ‘Doctor Strange’ To ‘The Grinch’

By Amy Feinstein
Published on: 10:24 PST, Apr 14, 2016

Fans of Benedict Cumberbatch are having a banner year, as their spirit animal Cumberbatch seemingly appears everywhere. Not only is Cumberbatch back to shooting the newest season of Sherlock, which put him on the proverbial map, but he will soon be on the big screen as Doctor Strange. It was also just announced that his booming iconic voice will be lent to the Grinch in the new Dr. Seuss film, The Grinch That Stole Christmas. Add in the Cumberbatch appearance on chocolate Easter bunnies as Cumberbunnies, and Benedict Cumberbatch is seemingly everywhere.

According to the Inquisitr, now that Benedict Cumberbatch has wrapped Doctor Strange in New York, he is back in London, shooting Sherlock. Though there will only be a few, select episodes, fans are eager to find out if actor Tom Hiddleston will be introduced as the third Holmes brother in the Sherlock series. For now, fans are just familiar with Mycroft and Sherlock, but could Tom Hiddleston play Holmes brother number three?

The big casting news involving Benedict Cumberbatch was announced yesterday, and reported by Vanity Fair. Cumberbatch will be the new voice of the Grinch for Universal. The announcement was made by the CEO of Illumination Entertainment, Chris Meledandri, who believes that Cumberbatch will bring more to the Grinch than just a silky speaking voice.

“We were determined to make a [casting] choice that would not only define this version of The Grinch as absolutely singular, but most importantly, we were looking for a voice to express comedic wickedness while embodying vulnerability.”

The Verge is reporting that though the last version of The Grinch That Stole Christmas was live action, this one will be animated, and the voice to be performed by Benedict Cumberbatch will mean even more to the final picture. The last Grinch was played by Jim Carrey, but it is expected that Cumberbatch will bring something a bit different to the role of the Grinch, which is a touch of compassion and perhaps heart.

The new version of The Grinch That Stole Christmas, with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch, will be out in November 2017. Cumberbatch is no stranger to voice work, as he has played the part of Smaug in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit series for years. Cumberbatch was also Classified in Penguins of Madagascar. Fans of Benedict Cumberbatch will also recognize his voice as the cunning Shere Khan in the new, Warner Bros. version of The Jungle Book.

But The Verge is suggesting that Cumberbatch as the Grinch is not that much different from the role he plays in Sherlock. Like Sherlock, the Grinch always thinks he is the smartest, most clever guy in the room, and his icy plans seem to move ahead without any heart at all. Emotions and feelings are just icky for both characters. Perhaps Cumberbatch is already in touch with his inner Grinch, thanks to years of playing Sherlock?

Entertainment Weekly says that Benedict Cumberbatch will bring something new to the yuletide loathing Grinch. It is thought that voice of Benedict Cumberbatch exudes a “comedic wickedness while embodying vulnerability.” Regardless of your thoughts of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch, it must be acknowledged that his voice is certainly distinctive.

Do you think that Benedict Cumberbatch will make a good and believable Grinch? Will you be seeing Doctor Strange?

[Photo by MediaPunch/AP Images]

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