Despicable Me 4 is now showing in theaters, but the creators are already planning for the future. The lovable Minions from the franchise will be returning to the big screen in their own solo movie, set to be released on June 30, 2027. It’s quite impressive to see a movie being scheduled so far in advance, isn’t it?
According to Deadline, some familiar faces will be working on Minions 3. Brian Lynch, who wrote the original Minions movie, will be back to write the script. Pierre Coffin, the director of the Minions movie and the first three Despicable Me films, will also be returning to direct this installment. Coffin is a key figure in the franchise, as he not only directs but also voices the multitude of Minions. The film will be produced by Illumination founder Chris Meledandri and Super Mario Bros. EP Bill Ryan.
The announcement of Minions 3 comes at a time when Despicable Me 4 is performing well at the box office, having already earned around $270 million worldwide. The entire Despicable Me franchise has grossed an impressive $4.64 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing animated film franchise ever and the 15th highest-grossing film franchise overall. The popularity of the series has been sustained over the years, with Illumination keeping the Minions at the forefront of audiences’ minds even as they work on other projects like Super Mario Bros. and Secret Life of Pets. (A sequel to Super Mario Bros. is set to be released in April 2026, while new films in the Pets and Sing series are also in the works.)
Movies released around the July 4 holiday tend to perform well, and the midweek release of Super Mario Bros. was beneficial to its success. By scheduling Minions 3 for June 30, Illumination is strategically positioning the film for maximum impact, potentially overshadowing other releases around the same time. The Minions are known for captivating audiences, so it will be interesting to see how they perform in their latest big-screen adventure.
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