Illumination Entertainment has confirmed that Minions 3, the latest instalment in the wildly successful Despicable Me franchise, will hit theatres on 30 June 2027. The announcement, first reported on Variety, positions the film as the prime opener for the 4 July holiday weekend, a strategic release date reflecting the franchise’s impressive box office track record. The upcoming sequel follows the triumph of Despicable Me 4, which recently garnered over US$200 million globally on its opening weekend.
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Pierre Coffin, who directed the first three Despicable Me films as well as Minions, will helm the project. Brian Lynch, known for his work on previous Minions films and Big Helium Dog, is set to pen the script. Coffin will also continue his role voicing the beloved Minions. The film’s production will be overseen by Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination, alongside producer Bill Ryan.
While specific plot details for Minions 3 remain under wraps, audiences can expect more misadventures involving the Minions and their leader, Young Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), delving into humorous escapades that have charmed viewers worldwide since the Minions’ debut in 2010’s Despicable Me.
The Despicable Me franchise has emerged as a cultural phenomenon over the last decade, amassing nearly US$5 billion in global box office earnings. Its enduring popularity was recently underscored by Minions: The Rise of Gru, which launched with US$125 million domestically and ultimately raked in US$939 million worldwide. Similarly, Despicable Me 4 impressed with a US$122 million domestic haul, marking it as one of this year’s most successful releases.
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Scheduled for a Wednesday release, Minions 3 aims to capitalize on the long Independence Day weekend, a tactic that proved lucrative for Despicable Me 4. This strategic timing underscores Illumination’s confidence in the franchise’s continuing appeal, which has consistently delivered box office hits, making it the highest-grossing animated series to date, surpassing even the Shrek series.
As Minions 3 gears up for its grand debut in 2027, fans of the series are eagerly anticipating another round of laughter and mischief that has become synonymous with the franchise.