HOLLYWOOD -- In Tinseltown, Ron Howard is known as the man who stole the Grinch who stole Christmas.

Howard and his producing partner Brian Grazer paid a whopping $5-million US for the rights to the Dr. Seuss holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

"It was quite a bidding war -- every major studio went after the rights," admits Grazer.

"John (Home Alone) Hughes was bidding for one studio and I know that Chris and Peter (There's Something About Mary) Farrelly made a proposal. Another studio was pushing Jack Nicholson to play the Grinch."

Each producer had to bring a proposal to Audrey Geisel, the widow of Theodor Geisel, who wrote under the name Dr. Seuss.

"Let's just say Audrey is pretty eccentric and leave it at that," says Grazer. "When Ron and I came to her, we pitched the project with Jim Carrey playing the Grinch and I'm pretty sure that's why she accepted us."

Howard says that Carrey "is really excited about playing the Grinch. He loves that the Grinch is mean, but funny.

"Rick Baker (Oscar-winning special effects wizard) is already working on the design for Jim's makeup. We had to do some preliminary work to bring to Audrey. She absolutely loved what Jim and Rick were doing."

Howard says he will not be able to begin shooting How the Grinch Stole Christmas until late fall or early next year.

"We're planning a Christmas 2000 release."

Baker will also design the more than 100 residents of Whoville for the film.


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