Jim Carrey may need to contact the CIA if he takes up role in The Grinch 2

Twenty-three years after starring in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, it has been reported that Jim Carrey is set to reprise the bright-green title role for the upcoming sequel.

The Ron Howard-directed movie will be having its 23rd Christmas this year, after first being released all the way back in 2000.

And though the film has never yet seen a sequel, Giant Freakin Robot has now reported that a follow-up to the much-loved festive movie was imminent and that fan-favourite Carrey would be returning to the role.

Universal Pictures

The publication wrote: "Jim Carrey is returning to Universal Pictures for The Grinch 2, once again playing Dr. Seuss’s most famous and ill-tempered creation."

Though the quick-wit Dr Seuss movie - which sees the bright green 'gentle giant' tormenting the residents of Whoville - has kept both parents and children feeling the Christmas spirit over the last two decades, it may be that not everyone is thrilled about the movie returning for a second part.

In fact, 61-year-old actor Carrey has spoken several times about the emotional and physical impact of getting into the iconic character for filming everyday.

Catching up with Irish talk-show presenter Graham Norton back in 2014, the Canadian comedian revealed it took eight hours for the heavy make-up and prosthetics to be applied to his face and body.

BBC

"When I did The Grinch, literally, the make-up was like being buried alive everyday," he admitted. "The first day was eight-and-a-half hours.

"And I went back to my trailer and put my leg through the wall and I told Ron Howard I couldn't do the movie.

"Then [movie producer] Brian Grazer came in being the fix-it man, and came up with a brilliant idea which was to hire a gentleman who is trained to teach CIA operatives how to endure torture."

He then teased: "So, that's how I got through The Grinch. It was quite hilarious."

Carrey then went on to disclose some of the ways he was able to calm himself down.

Universal/Getty Images

"If you're freaking out and you start to spiral downward, turn the television on, change a pattern, have someone you know come up and smack you in the head, punch yourself in the leg, or smoke as much as you possibly can."

Describing his "horrifying" costume as consisting of "green yack hair", which he says turned inwards, Carrey added that the only thing that brought him comfort was that the movie was "for the kids".

"I did the make-up 100 times," he further shocked viewers.

So, we can imagine the CIA may once again be needed if Carrey is to sit back down to transform into the Grinch!