
Few actors can claim as many legendary roles as Jim Carrey, and now, thanks to his return as Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3—which has already brought in a massive $422.4 million worldwide—talk has reignited about whether he’ll bring back any of his other beloved characters. Topping the list? The Grinch.
The 2000 Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, remains one of Carrey’s most iconic performances, and fans have long wondered if he’d ever consider donning the green fur again. In a recent ComicBook.com interview, Carrey, 63, didn’t rule it out completely—but made it clear he wouldn’t go through the same grueling process as before.
“Oh, gosh, you know, if we could figure out the Grinch,” he admitted. “The thing about it is, on the day, I do that with a ton of makeup and can hardly breathe. It was an extremely excruciating process. The children were in my mind all the time. ‘It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids.’ And now, with motion capture and things like that, I could be free to do other things. Anything is possible in this world.”
So, could we see a digitally enhanced Grinch powered by motion capture? Never say never.
Related: Universal Revives Jim Carrey’s Grinch for a Long-Awaited Festive Follow-Up
Meanwhile, Carrey’s co-star from The Mask, Cameron Diaz, recently added fuel to the fire for another sequel. While promoting Back in Action, Diaz was asked by Access Hollywood if she’d ever reprise her role as Tina Carlyle.
“If Jim’s on board, I’ve been riding those coat-tails from day one!” she laughed. Reports indicate that Carrey himself has expressed interest in revisiting the role of Stanley Ipkiss.
As for whether Carrey will actually commit to a sequel of any kind, that remains up in the air. The actor has previously hinted at retirement, telling fans he might be done after Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Yet, in an interview with AP Entertainment last year, he cheekily admitted that he loves playing a genius—and, more importantly, “needed the money.”
His opinions on revisiting past characters have fluctuated. In 2022, he told E! News’ Daily Pop that he’d only consider returning as Ace Ventura if a visionary like Christopher Nolan reimagined the character. However, he added, “But for the most part, you know, after a certain time there’s not one cell in your body that is that person anymore so you end up just imitating what you did in the old days and the original inspiration isn’t there.”
Still, there’s no denying the appeal of seeing Carrey slip back into one of his iconic roles. The Grinch, The Mask, Ace Ventura, or even his manic take on The Riddler—fans are eager for at least one more return to the past. The only question is, will Carrey bite?
Which of Jim Carrey’s legendary roles do you want to see revived? Let us know in the comments!