New Minions film hits major milestone

The latest Minions instalment will open the Annecy Animation Film Festival.

Universal Pictures has confirmed Minions and Monsters, the newest chapter in Illumination’s multi-billion-dollar franchise, will lead the 2026 Annecy Animation Film Festival on June 21.

The film, directed by Pierre Coffin and co-directed by Patrick Delage, forms the third standalone Minions film and the seventh entry in the wider Despicable Me series, which began in 2010.

The franchise – anchored by Steve Carell, 63, as the voice of Gru, the reformed supervillain turned reluctant hero – has grown into one of the most commercially successful animated properties in cinema, grossing more than $5.6billion worldwide.

Detailing the latest instalment, the official synopsis states the film follows the Minions as they navigate Hollywood, lose their fame, unleash monsters and attempt to repair the chaos they have caused.

The project is produced by Illumination founder Chris Meledandri, alongside Bill Ryan, and is written by Pierre Coffin and Brian Lynch.

The voice cast includes Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan and Trey Parker, with Coffin once again voicing the Minions.

Steve’s official involvement in Minions Monsters, which comes out on 1 July, is not confirmed, with some sources listing him while others suggest he may not appear because the film is a prequel set before Gru's birth.

But fans are hoping for a surprise cameo in the new Minions film

The film’s development follows a first trailer debut during the Super Bowl earlier this year and a further showcase at CinemaCon 2026, reinforcing Universal’s continued heavy investment in the money-spinning franchise.

The Annecy premiere marks a return to the festival for Illumination, which has maintained a long-standing relationship with the event since the debut of Despicable Me.

Steve, whose performance as Gru has become a defining part of his career alongside his role as Michael Scott in The Office, has remained closely associated with the series’ success.

His character’s evolution from villain to father figure has been central to the narrative arc across films including Minions: The Rise of Gru in 2022, and continues to underpin the franchise’s appeal to family audiences.

The Minions themselves – voiced by Coffin since their introduction – have become cultural mainstays, spawning spin-offs, merchandise and global box office success.

The Annecy Animation Film Festival, widely regarded as one of the most significant events in the animation sector, will host the premiere just days before the film’s worldwide rollout, marking another milestone for a franchise that has maintained its commercial and cultural reach over more than a decade.