We Almost Had Berkley Breathed’s Grinch, Got Jim Carrey Instead

Jack Nicholson voicing the Grinch? Come on, how could that not be a winner?

“Dr Seuss’ widow Audrey Geisel enjoyed our vision,” says Berkley Breathed, but she enjoyed Ron Howard’s vision, and Universal’s option money, a little bit more, so we ended up with Jim Carrey’s live action version instead. Kinda like asking for a Red Ryder BB gun and getting a lump of coal instead, but at least thanks to this concept art we can get an idea of what Bloom County, Outland and Opus creator Breathed had in mind for Dr Seuss’ infamous stink, stank, stunk Grinch.

Breathed’s version would have had Jack Nicholson voicing the title character – you can see the resemblance – which, on its own, would have been an improvement on Carrey.

Breathed has switched to writing children’s books, two of which – Mars Needs Moms! and Edward Fudwupper Fibbed Big – have been made into movies.

Source: io9