'Minions: The Rise of Gru': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about the sequel

The movie will portray the rise of Gru as a villain from when he was a mere 12-year-old boy

BY PRIYANKA SUNDAR

UPDATED FEB 6, 2020

'Minions: The Rise of Gru' is a sequel to 'Minions' that released in 2015 and became a smash hit with a collection of $1.159B. The film is still a prequel to the 'Despicable Me' series.

Release date

The film opens in theaters on July 3.

Plot

The official synopsis of the film says: "This summer, from the biggest animated franchise in history and global cultural phenomenon, comes the untold story of one 12-year-old’s dream to become the world’s greatest supervillain, in Minions: The Rise of Gru."

The film will be set in 1970s in the suburbs where Gru is growing up. Gru, at this point, is a huge fan of supervillain team Vicious 6 and plots a plan evil enough to let him join the supervillain team. Coincidentally, at this time Vicious 6 ousts their leader -- the legendary supervillain Wild Knuckles. So Gru goes for an interview to become the newest member of the supervillain team. Things do not go as expected and how Gru gets himself out of the mess forms the crux of the plot.

Cast

Steve Carrell as Gru

Steve Carrell will reprise his role as Gru and in this film, he will voice the 12-year-old who dreams of joining the supervillain team Vicious 6.

Pierre Coffin as the Minions

Pierre Coffin is a French voice actor, who co-directed all four 'Despicable Me' franchise films. He also voices the minions.

Other cast members include Taraji P. Henson as Belle Bottom, Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow, Alan Arkin as Wild Knuckles, RZA playing an unannounced character, Jean-Claude Van Damme as Jean Clawed, Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck, Dolph Lundgren as Svengeance, Danny Trejo as Stronghold, Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario and Julie Andrews as Marlena Gru, Gru's mother.

Director

Kyle Balda, who co-directed 'Minions', 'Despicable Me' and Illumination’s 2012 film 'The Lorax' has also directed 'Minions: The Rise of Gru'.

Trailer:

The first ad spot of 'Minion: The Rise of Gru' was released during Superbowl LIV.

The trailer of the film released on February 5 and it features the 12-year-old Gru attending the interview to become the newest member of Vicious 6. He is written off as too young and the members of Vicious 6 that Gru admired and idolized laugh at him and tell him to come back after he has done something worthwhile. He is provoked into stealing a precious stone from the Vicious 6 with the help of his minions and a comic chase ensues.