When Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s DESPICABLE ME came out, it launched a multi-layer franchise, spawning two sequels in DESPICABLE ME 2 and DESPICABLE ME 3, and a spinoff movie with the prequel MINIONS, turning the spotlight on the lovable little yellow guys who helped Gru carry out his supervillain deeds. The newest entry in the franchise combines the two concepts, giving us another MINIONS prequel (set in the 1970s) but also giving us an origin story of sorts for Gru… titled ever so appropriately MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU. Steve Carell returns to once again voice Gru and Russell Brand returns to voice Dr. Nefario, joined this time by Taraji P. Henson as Belle Bottom, Jean-Claude Van Damme as Jean Clawed, Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck, Dolph Lundgren as Svengeance, Danny Trejo as Stronghold, Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow, and Julie Andrews voices Gru’s mom. Check out the first full trailer below and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
In the heart of the 1970s, amid a flurry of feathered hair and flared jeans, Gru ( Steve Carell) is growing up in the suburbs. A fanboy of a supervillain supergroup known as the Vicious 6, Gru hatches a plan to become evil enough to join them. Luckily, he gets some mayhem-making backup from his loyal followers, the Minions. Together, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto—a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please—deploy their skills as they and Gru build their first lair, experiment with their first weapons and pull off their first missions.
When the Vicious 6 oust their leader, legendary fighter Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin), Gru interviews to become their newest member. It doesn’t go well (to say the least), and only gets worse after Gru outsmarts them and suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. On the run, Gru will turn to an unlikely source for guidance, Wild Knuckles himself, and discover that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.