It is not uncommon for an animated picture to have a tonne of positive reviews and achieve enormous box office success, leading to a number of direct sequels, a few spin-off features, a tonne of short films, and even a theme park attraction. After its first release in 2010, DESPICABLE ME, the flagship game of the animation studios at Illumination Entertainment, went on to accomplish all of that and did so quickly. However, as a follow-up to a spin-off that also serves as a prequel to the original progenitor of the main series, MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU is pioneering new territory in the franchise and in the world of animation.

There’s no need to fear if the Minions’ incomprehensible language (apart from the phrase “banana”) is simpler to comprehend. Starting when you can finally take the family to see this highly anticipated and long, long-awaited movie, we will cover all you need to know about the newest animated comedy from Illumination Entertainment.

In theatres July 2022: Minions: The Rise Of Gru

Nearly half of the 12-year history of the franchise is devoted to the tale of the difficult journey that MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU has undergone before being ultimately released in theatres – on Friday, July 1, 2022. Initially approved by Universal Studios and Illumination Entertainment in 2017, this follow-up to the 2015 smash MINIONS is a spin-off that takes place decades before the events of 2010’s DESPICABLE ME.

A scheduled release date of Friday, July 3, 2020 was announced to the prequel/sequel in 2019 along with an official title: MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU. Instead of pausing production completely as many other live-action movies did at the time, the Covid-19 outbreak prompted the cast and crew to work remotely less than a year later. After some time, a new release date of July 2, 2022, was declared, however Universal Studios then changed it to a day earlier.

It is a tale of origin.

The secret tale of the titular yellow monsters’ creation, their dedication to the most “despicable” characters imaginable, like Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm as Scarlet and Herb Overkill, and how they first met their current boss, Gru, was told in the film MINIONS. The secret tale of how the titular criminal mastermind became such a “despicable” person himself will be revealed in MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU. Of course, this led to his reformation after he became the adoptive father of three young girls.

According to reports, the sequel will begin up where its 2015 predecessor left off and be set in the 1970s. A 12-year-old Gru strives to live out his ambition of becoming the next great supervillain and join the prominent criminal organisation he admires, the Vicious 6, during this fun time. The Minions and their dependable mechanical abilities, as well as a few other well-known faces, aid with his progress.

The cast of The Minions: The Rise Of Gru

As one might expect, Steve Carell, an Oscar® contender, returns to voice the young version of the main character in MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU. Julie Andrews, who plays Gru’s mother Marlena, Russell Brand, who plays Dr. Nefario, Gru’s future assistant, and Pierre Coffin, who plays the Minions, are all reprising their roles from the franchise.

Additional Vicious 6 villains from the DESPICABLE ME series constitute a large portion of the characters in MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU. Leader Belle Bottom is portrayed by fellow Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, Master Chow is voiced by Michelle Yeoh, Nunchuk is portrayed by Lucy Lawless, Svengeance is portrayed by Dolph Lundgren, Stronghold is portrayed by Danny Trejo, and Jean Clawed is portrayed, quite appropriately, by Jean-Claude Van Damme. The founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA, has been cast in an unspecified role alongside Carell’s LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE co-star, Oscar-winning actor Alan Arkin, who also plays former Vicious 6 leader Wild Knuckles.

Expect A ‘70s Style Soundtrack

Pharrell Williams, who wrote the Oscar-nominated theme song “Happy” for DESPICABLE ME 2, and Heitor Pereira will once again write the score for MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU, as they have for all of the previous DESPICABLE ME films. To reflect its 1970s background, the movie will also have a “killer” collection of timeless songs.

Jack Antonoff, well known for being a member of the Grammy-winning, number-one pop trio fun, has compiled this vintage soundtrack. He was voted Producer of the Year at the Grammys in 2022 and has won a couple Grammy Awards on his own for producing albums like Taylor Swift’s “1989” and “Folklore.” As LOVE, SIMON’s executive music producer, Antonoff has prior expertise producing music for movies.

The music for MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU is expected to be a huge talking point among moviegoers of all ages, with classic pop radio standards from the 1970s becoming all the rage in Hollywood lately since James Gunn introduced Star-“Awesome Lord’s Mixes” in Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY flicks.

Speaking of music, among the numerous mysteries surrounding this next family-friendly smash, we are also interested in finding out which character RZA is providing the voice for. On Friday, July 1, 2022, the sequel to Illumination will hit theatres, revealing all.