The first
Minions film debuted back in July of 2015 and grossed over $1 billion at the box office. So, naturally, Illumination want to capitalise on this success; a sequel has been announced and will arrive in theatres exactly five years after its predecessor did.
A new report by
Deadline has revealed the theatrical release date and new, official title for the animated sequel. It's said that
Minions: The Rise of Gru will debut in theatres on July 3rd, 2020.
On the date, the animated sequel will be up against Ryan Reynolds'
Free Guy (which releases on the same day),
Top Gun: Maverick,
In The Heights (those two releasing the week before), and the next instalments in the
Purge and
Ghostsbusters series (which release the week after).
Fans of the
Descpicable Me franchise, of which the Minions films are spinoffs from, will recognise Gru as the protagonist of those films. Steve Carell voiced Gru in those films, so it stands to reason that he will reprise the role in the
Minions sequel. It certainly sounds like
Minions: The Rise of Gru will serve as somewhat of an origin story for the megalomaniacal character.