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First Look: Minions 3
A new image from Minions 3 has arrived, offering fans a playful hint at the next chapter in Illumination's beloved franchise. Universal Pictures and Illumination quietly shared the still on X, teasing a summer release for the next Despicable Me universe installment. Alongside the image, the studio confirmed the trailer will drop tomorrow, building early buzz for the July 1, 2026 release date.
What the Image and Trailer Promise
The snapshot shows the franchise's trademark blend of slapstick, chaos, and charm. Set in the 1920s, the story follows three aspiring Minion filmmakers who travel to Hollywood to pursue their dreams — only to stumble on a magical spellbook and accidentally summon a dangerous creature. The tone looks to mix vintage Hollywood whimsy with the pandemonium fans expect from these yellow troublemakers.
Creative Team and Franchise Context
Directed by Pierre Coffin, who has long been a guiding creative voice for the Minions and even provides many of their vocalizations, the film is scripted by Brian Lynch. Minions 3 continues the narrative thread that spawned from Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) and serves as another prequel piece within the larger Despicable Me cinematic universe. This installment will be the seventh feature in the franchise.
Why This Matters
Following the strong box office showing of Minions: The Rise of Gru, expectations are high that Minions 3 will be a major family animation draw in 2026. The choice to place the story in a period Hollywood setting taps into two current trends: nostalgia-driven storytelling and animated films that lean on historical or stylistic backdrops to refresh familiar characters.
Behind the scenes trivia: Pierre Coffin often records Minion vocals himself, and Illumination is known for combining simple, expressive animation with big theatrical gags that work for both children and adults. That mix is likely to return here, balanced against the franchise risk of repeating familiar beats.
Lightly critical note: while any long-running franchise faces fatigue, Minions 3 seems poised to blend fresh setting and magical mischief to keep the formula lively.
The trailer tomorrow should clarify tone and key sequences, but for now the first image is enough to remind audiences why these little yellow icons remain a box office force. Expect family crowds and summer streaming chatter once the full trailer lands.
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