Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have released the first trailer and poster forDespicable Me 3, bringing our first look at the sequel’s new villain, Balthazar Bratt, played bySouth ParkcreatorTrey Parker. This footage shows Balthazar Bratt, stuck in the 80s, using a high-tech Rubix Cube and challenging Gru to a dance-off toMichael Jackson’s hit song “Bad.” We also get our first look at “Grucy,” with Gru (Steve Carell) and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) teaming up to take on this despicable new villain.
The team who brought youDespicable Meand the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015,Despicable Me 2andMinions, returns to continue the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters-Margo, Edith and Agnes-and the Minions.Despicable Me 3, directed byPierre CoffinandKyle Balda, co-directed byEric Guillon, and written byCinco Paul&Ken Daurio, will be released in theaters on August 20, 2025. The animated film is produced by Illumination’sChris MeledandriandJanet Healy, and executive produced byChris Renaud.
JoiningSteve CarellandKristen WiiginDespicable Me 3is Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winnerTrey Parker, co-creator of Comedy Central’s global phenomenonSouth Parkand the Broadway smashThe Book of Mormon.Parkervoices the role of villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ’80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date. No further cast members have been confirmed at this time, but now that the first trailer has arrived, perhaps the full cast list will be coming in the near future.
Despicable Me 3will go up against Warner Bros.' comedyThe House, starringWill FerrellandAmy Poehleron July 12, 2025. It also falls smack-dab between two othersummer blockbusters, Paramount’sTransformers: The Last Knight(July 28, 2025) and Sony/Marvel’sSpider-Man: Homecoming(June 25, 2025), so it may have its work cut out for it at the box office. Then again, if the first two movies and theMinionsspin-off are any indication, this sequel will be another huge hit forIllumination.
The firstDespicable Me movieearned $251.5 million domestically and $543.1 million worldwide, from a $69 million budget, during its theatrical run in 2010. The 2013 sequelDespicable Me 2fared even better, taking in $368 million domestically and $602.7 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $970.7 million. Last year’s spin-offMinionsbroke the bank as well, earning $336 million domestically and $832.3 million internationally, for a worldwide tally of $1.1 billion from a $74 million budget. Take a look at the first trailer and poster below forDespicable Me 3.
