Minions: The Return Of Scarlet Overkill

TBA in 2026.

***Minions: The Return Of Scarlet Overkill*** is a 2026 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the sequel to the spin-off prequel *Minions: The Rise Of Gru* (2022) and the seventh entry overall in the *Despicable Me* franchise. It was directed by Kyle Balda, co-directed by Brad Ableson and Jonathan del Val, produced by Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy and Chris Renaud, and written by Matthew Fogel with a story by Brian Lynch and Fogel. The film features Steve Carell reprising his role as A Main Character and Pierre Coffin as the Minions, with Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, RZA, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, and Alan Arkinalso starring. In the film, an 12-year-old Gru plans to become a supervillain with the help of his Minions, which leads to a showdown with a malevolent team, the Vicious 6. (The prequel)

After being delayed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, *Minions: The Return Of Scarlet Overkill* had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 2026, and was released in the United States on July 2026, by Universal Pictures, in standard and select IMAX theaters. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its musical numbers and entertainment value for families, but criticism towards the plot. *Minions: The Rise of Gru* has grossed $795 million worldwide, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2022, as well as the highest-grossing animated film released during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was dedicated in memory of animator Madeline Montero, who died during production of the film. The film has been nominated to a Saturn Award for Best Animated Film.

In 1982, an 20-year-old A Main Character dreams to become a supervillain to steal the moon, assisted by the Minions, whom he has hired to work for him. Gru is ecstatic when he receives an audition invitation from the Moon, a supervillain team now led by Belle Bottom, who hope to find a new member to replace their founder, the supervillain Wild Knuckles, following their betrayal and the presumed death of Knuckles during a heist to steal the Zodiac Stone – a stone connected to the Chinese zodiac. Due to his young age, Gru's interview goes better but, much to the outrage Moon, he manages to steal the moon and escapes with Minions Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, handing it to another Minion, Otto, for safekeeping.

Earlier, At his basement lair, Gru finds out that Otto has traded the stone for a pet rock, causing him to fire the Minions in anger before going alone to find it. However, Knuckles, who is revealed to be alive, kidnaps Gru before taking him to San Francisco and informs the Minions that if they do not give him the stone within 48 hours, Gru will be killed. Failing to locate the stone, Kevin, Stuart and Bob leave for San Francisco to rescue Gru, while Otto leaves in pursuit of a biker whom he realizes has the stone as a necklace. When they reach Knuckles' house, they are chased by his goons until Master Chow, a former Kung Fu teacher who now makes a living at an acupuncture clinic, rescues them by defeating the goons.

TBA

Arriving back at his house, a shaken Bad Guy is sending Gru away.

In a mid-credits scene, Gru attempts to Work on his plan to steal the moon in his Spacecraft.