Director of Despicable Me 4 offers exciting hints about the sequel’s future

Since its debut in 2010, “Despicable Me” has flourished into a colossal franchise for Universal. With four main films, two Minions spin-offs, and a slew of specials and shorts following the supervillain-turned-superdad Gru, the series has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. The sustained success of “Despicable Me” suggests that Universal and Illumination are keen on extending the franchise indefinitely. This sentiment was echoed by “Despicable Me 4” director Chris Renaud in a recent discussion.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chris Renaud, a longstanding director and producer for the series, delved into the future potentials of the franchise while talking about the upcoming “Despicable Me 4.” While Renaud didn’t confirm any new entries in the series or further Minions spin-offs, he hinted that there have been some discussions about future projects ahead of the fourth film’s release on July 3.

“I think that the world of the characters lends itself to multiple stories because they’re human, they’re very relatable,” Renaud shared.

He compared the franchise’s dynamic to the James Bond series, where Gru, his family, and the Minions serve as the continual “lifeblood,” while new villains continually emerge to challenge them.

“Just to keep that character going, essentially, the way Bond operates is what villain is he up against,” Renaud elaborated. “And there’s an element of that here with Gru, like, okay, who’s somebody fun like Maxime, and what’s a new family dynamic that we can put him up against?”

It’s evident that Renaud might play a pivotal role in whatever future directions the franchise takes.

Renaud has been a cornerstone of the “Despicable Me” series since its inception in 2010. Alongside Pierre Coffin, he co-directed the first film, which turned out to be a blockbuster, grossing over $543 million globally and receiving rave reviews from both critics and audiences.

Following the phenomenal success of the initial film, Renaud continued his involvement in almost every subsequent theatrical release of the franchise. He directed the second and fourth “Despicable Me” films and served as an executive producer for “Despicable Me 3,” “Minions,” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

Renaud’s contributions aren’t limited to the “Despicable Me” series. He has also worked in various capacities on several other Illumination films including “The Lorax,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Sing,” and “The Grinch.”

“Despicable Me 4” advances the storyline several years from where the third film left off. It follows Gru’s family as they welcome their newest addition, infant Gru Jr. However, the infant is initially distant from Gru. As Gru endeavors to build a bond with his new son, he must also confront an old adversary, Maxime Le Mal, who resurfaces to disrupt the family’s tranquility.

“Despicable Me 4” is now showing in theaters.