CinemaCon: Benedict Cumberbatch will voice 'The Grinch'

LAS VEGAS — Benedict Cumberbatch will voice the villainous Grinch in Universal's animated The Grinch.

Chris Meledandri, Illumination Entertainment CEO, made the major casting announcement Wednesday during Universal Studios' presentation at the CinemaCon convention of theater owners.

"Choosing the actor to voice the Grinch, we were determined to make a 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," said Meledandri.

"It is that vulnerability that allows us to create a character that is not only highly entertaining but also has an irresistible appeal," he added.

Cumberbatch previously voiced Smaug the Dragon in the Hobbit trilogy.

The animated project is expected out Nov. 10, 2017 , some 17 years after the live-action version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey.

December marks the 50th anniversary of the definitive rendition of the Seuss story: the TV version directed by Chuck Jones and featuring the voice of Boris Karloff as The Grinch.

The green Grinch lives in a cave bitterly watching the happy people of Whoville below him and vows to take Christmas away from them.

Meledandri promised the movie version would be "both modern and classic."