'The Grinch': Benedict Cumberbatch is the grumpiest grouch in festive new trailer

The Grinch is back for a new big screen outing and he’s still got it in for Christmas.

Benedict Cumberbatch is voicing the classic Dr. Seuss character in this new adventure from Illumination, the animation studio that brought you Despicable Me, Sing, and Minions.

However, you’d be hard-pressed to identify the Sherlock star’s voice from the new trailer as he’s affecting an American accent for the part.

Here’s the official synopsis: The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Funny, heart warming and visually stunning, it’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch lends his voice to the infamous Grinch, who lives a solitary life inside a cave on Mt. Crumpit with only his loyal dog, Max, for company. With a cave rigged with inventions and contraptions for his day-to-day needs, the Grinch only sees his neighbours in Who-ville when he runs out of food.

Each year at Christmas they disrupt his tranquil solitude with their increasingly bigger, brighter and louder celebrations. When the Whos declare they are going to make Christmas three times bigger this year, the Grinch realises there is only one way for him to gain some peace and quiet: he must steal Christmas. To do so, he decides he will pose as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, even going so far as to trap a lackadaisical misfit reindeer to pull his sleigh.

Meanwhile, down in Who-ville, Cindy-Lou Who-a young girl overflowing with holiday cheer-plots with her gang of friends to trap Santa Claus as he makes his Christmas Eve rounds so that she can thank him for help for her overworked single mother. As Christmas approaches, however, her good-natured scheming threatens to collide with the Grinch’s more nefarious one. Will Cindy-Lou achieve her goal of finally meeting Santa Claus? Will the Grinch succeed in silencing the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all?

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Who Stole Christmas was first published in 1957. It has been adapted a number of times in the past, most recently in 2000 by Ron Howard, whose film How the Grinch Stole Christmas starred Jim Carrey in the title role.

The Grinch arrives in UK cinemas 9 November.

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