Universal’s “Minions & Monsters,” the latest installment in the “Minions” franchise from Illumination, is set to open this year’s Annecy Animation Film Festival June 21.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Pierre Coffin, co-directed by Patrick Delage and produced by Illumination and Universal Pictures, this is the third entry in the Minions’ adventures, the direct sequel to “Minions: The Rise of Gru” (2022) and the seventh film of the “Despicable Me” franchise, started back in 2010 by Coffin himself along with Disney/Blue Sky alum Chris Renaud.
This time round, set in 1920s Hollywood, instead of being Gru’s assistants, the Minions go off on an odyssey to find frightening creatures to appear as baddies in their own monster movie. They partner with a cute green creature and then go head-to-head with sea beasts, conquer Hollywood, become movie stars themselves, unleash monsters onto the world and then have to band together to save the planet.
A classic Minions’ day at the office.
Produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri along with Bill Ryan, executive producer of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” the film is written by Brian Lynch (“Minions,” “The Secret Life of Pets”), with a stacked star-studded voice cast led by Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg and Allison Janney, also taking in Christoph Waltz, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker and Coffin himself, who has provided the voice for the Minions since their first appearance in 2010.
After a first trailer revealed during the Super Bowl earlier this year, Universal offered an extensive first look of “Minions & Monsters” at Cinemacon 2026, and is now headed to Annecy.
Sixteen years ago, Pierre Coffin had a drink with Variety ahead of the world premiere of “Despicable Me”, first of its name. “In an hour’s time or so, I’ll find out if I’m a film director,” he said. History seems to have answered his question.
Nine days before the general release of “Minions & Monsters,” the spin-off’s bow at Annecy of what has now become a -– to date – $5.6 billion franchise at Annecy renews a deep and respectful relationship between Illumination and the Festival, that dates back to this very premiere.
The film is releasing on July 1 worldwide.
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