Chris Meledandri has found great success adapting the works of Dr. Seuss in the past, which is why he's made it a priority as the founder of Illumination Entertainment to bring even more to the big screen. After producing 2008's Horton Hears a Who, last year's The Lorax was a hit scoring nearly $350M worldwide, and now Meldedandri is looking to adapt one of the author's most famous books, even though it hasn't been that long since one was in theaters.
Deadline reports that Illumination will develop a CG-animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas, to be directed by Pete Candeland, known for animating a number of Gorillaz music videos. Candeland should make for a nice fit in the company responsible for flicks like Despicable Me and Hop. His style could push them in some whole new directions, actually. Very interested in seeing how this partnership work out.
Of course, we all remember the live-action 'Grinch' film with Jim Carrey, which while expensive still hauled in well over $300M and is generally well-regarded. Probably nothing will measure up to the Chuck Jones holiday classic, though.
Illumination is also working on adapting Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, which will hopefully be good enough to make us forget the Mike Meyers version.
