Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate

Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate is a 2024 American animated superhero comedy film directed by Eric Fogel from a screenplay by Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons. Billed as both a sequel to Megamind and the pilot for the television series Megamind Rules!, the film stars Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, David Cross, Maya Aoki Tuttle, Emily Tunon, Talon Warburton, Scott Adsit, Chris Sullivan, Tony Hale, Jeanine Mason and Adam Lambert. Its plot follows Megamind (Ferrell) who, in his new path as Metro City's defender, clashes with a supervillain team (of which he was formerly associated with) who plans to launch Metro City to the moon.
Unlike its predecessor, Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate was produced by DreamWorks Animation Television.
The film began streaming on Paramount+ on March 1, 2024. 
== Plot ==
Two days after the events of the first film, Megamind has now assumed the role of Metro City's defender. He, along with Ol' Chum, stops a criminal trio known as the Go-Fish gang from stealing a priceless fish. For his heroic efforts, Megamind is presented the Key to the city. Chum, feeling left out and undervalued in his efforts, works up the courage to tell Megamind that he wants to be his sidekick. Upon being rejected, Chum claims that he will quit and search for other opportunities of which Megamind allows him.
The Doom Syndicate, a supervillain team that Megamind used to be part of, breaks out of prison to visit him under the impression that he is still a villian and that his hero role is part of an evil plan. They embark on a crime spree and eventually challenge Megamind to prove he's still evil by robbing a bank. Megamind struggles to do so, but is helped by Keiko Morita, his self-proclaimed biggest fan. Meanwhile, Chum has taken up work at a run-down diner that he plans to remodel and expand.
Keeping his old crew fooled, Megamind reveals an old villainous plot he had to launch Metro City to the moon. The Doom Syndicate prepares to launch the rockets, but Megamind stalls them up to the point where they realize he's up to something. They plan to launch it themselves or destroy the city. Realizing that he can't defeat the Syndicate alone, Megamind tracks down Chum, who has remodeled the diner into a successful Donut shop and attempts to enlist his help. But after realizing he just might belong more at the shop than with him, he opens up and says letting him go was his biggest regret.
Megamind attempts to stop the Doom Syndicate himself, but finds himself overpowered after they learn of his facade. Feeling defeated and done with hero work, Megamind hides in an alleyway. He is confronted by Roxanne and Keiko who remind him it's okay to enlist the help of others. Chum also returns as Megamind tells him he's truly his sidekick. Megamind, Chum, Roxanne, and Keiko team up and stop the Doom Syndicate one by one, but fail to stop the launch. They manage to redirect Metro City back to Earth with no citizens harmed. After realizing he's way in over his head, the Mayor of Metro City gives Roxanne his job. Keiko launches a newly designed hero signal as Megamind feels accomplished in his new team.
In a mid-credits scene, the Doom Syndicate are locked back up in prison, when they are visited by Megamind's former mentor, Machiavillain.
== Cast ==
=== Main ===
* Will Ferrell as Megamind, a blue-skinned, humanoid alien supervillain-turned-superhero with a large cranium. 
* Tina Fey as Roxanne Ritchi, a strong-willed news reporter who becomes Megamind's love interest.
* David Cross as Ol' Chum (formerly Minion), a talking fish who has been Megamind's sidekick and best friend since childhood. In universe, it is revealed that he changed his name after a cease-and-desist from Mr. Minion's Meatsicles.
* Maya Aoki Tuttle as Keiko Morita, Megamind's child fan and social media influencer.
=== The Doom Syndicate ===
* Emily Tunon as Lady Doppler, a storm themed supervillain who can manipulate the weather.
* Scott Adsit as Pierre Pressure, a mime themed supervillain who has the power of hypnosis.
* Talon Warburton as Lord Nighty-Knight, a knight themed supervillain who can manipulate the shadows.
* Chris Sullivan as Behemoth, a giant lava golem.
* Adam Lambert as Machiavillain, a disembodied brain and Megamind's former mentor.
=== Supporting ===
* Roger Craig Smith as the Mayor of Metro City, the cowardly mayor of Metro City.
* Jeanine Mason as Christina Christo, the Mayor's assistant.
* Eric Murphy as Big King Fish, the short leader of the Go Fish Gang.
* Todd Haberkorn as Blue Mackerel, the skinny member of the Go Fish Gang.
* Joey Rudman as Red Snapper, the rounded member of the Go Fish Gang.
* Tony Hale as Mel/Mr. Donut, the owner of the rundown diner turned donut shop.
* Michael Beattie as Eccentric Eddie, a homeless man who has a pet cockroach name Thaddeus.
* Eric Fogel as Polly 227, a robot parakeet Megamind built for Ol' Chum.
== Production ==
=== Development ===
In April 2011, DreamWorks Animation's then-CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg, commented that the studio did not have plans to produce future movie-genre parodies like Megamind (2010), Monsters Vs. Aliens (2009) and Shark Tale (2004) or sequels to these, saying that these films "all shared an approach and tone and idea of parody, and did not travel well internationally. We don't have anything like that coming on our schedule now".
In February 2022, it was announced that Paramount+ had ordered DreamWorks Animation Television to produce a spin-off series titled Megamind’s Guide to Defending Your City. In August of that year, it was confirmed that the storyboarding had concluded and that the show had entered production.
In February 2024, DreamWorks Animation Television revealed a trailer for Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate, with Will Ferrel, Tina Fey, David Cross, Josh Brener, Maya Aoki Tuttle, Emily Tunon, Talon Warburton, Scott Adsit, Chris Sullivan, Tony Hale, Jeanine Mason and Adam Lambert as part of the main cast. Alongside the film, Paramount+ also revealed that the previously announced television series, retitled from Megamind's Guide to Defending Your City to Megamind Rules!, would serve as a follow-up to the film and be released the same day.
The concept of the Doom Syndicate was originally from an early version of the first film, but they were scrapped from the movie and instead were reused for the 2010 tie-in video game Megamind: Ultimate Showdown. Although the group made their return in Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate, the group members differ from the ones in the video game, as Behemoth and Lady Doppler are the only two characters who were originally from the early version of the first film seen in the book The Art of Megamind.
=== Animation ===
The animation was provided by 88 Pictures and CGCG, with production services by Doberman Pictures and Jellyfish Pictures.
== Release ==
Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate began streaming on Paramount+ on March 1, 2024, alongside the first 8 episodes of Megamind Rules!