Gru and the Minions go together like peanut butter and jelly. They are fun on their own without a doubt but so much better as a duo. They are the leaders of a smart and frankly fun franchise that people of all ages love. Now we are getting yet another movie that will take us back to the past, telling the origin story of Gru. Minions: The Rise of Gru gave us the wonderful gift of a new official trailer to detail the throwback fun. And, if that delight isn’t enough, there’s new photos and a poster with the famous supervillain and his incredibly loyal throng of yellow followers.
In the Minions: The Rise of Gru trailer, we take a trip back. Way back. Back in time to the 1970s when Gru was just a 12-year-old getting his fledgling evil career off the ground. He is known as the “Mini Boss” and boy does he get into a ton of shenanigans. Here’s the film’s official synopsis, which reveals a villain collective that Gru aims to impress.
Long before he becomes the master of evil, Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement. It’s not going particularly well. When Gru crosses paths with the Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto—a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please—this unexpected family joins forces. Together, they build their first lair, design their first weapons, and strive to execute their first missions.
When the infamous supervillain supergroup, the Vicious 6, oust their leader—legendary martial arts fighter Wild Knuckles (Oscar® winner Alan Arkin)— Gru, their most devoted fanboy, interviews to become their newest member. The Vicious 6 is not impressed by the diminutive, wannabe villain, but then Gru outsmarts (and enrages) them, and he suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. With Gru on the run, the Minions attempt to master the art of kung fu to help save him, and Gru discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.
Rounding out the rest of the Vicious 6 voice cast is Taraji P. Henson as Belle Bottom, Jean-Claude Van Damme as Jean Clawed (with a robot claw, of course), Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck (you can figure this one out), Dolph Lundgren as Swedish roller-skate champion Svengeance, and Danny Trejo as Stronghold. What a cast indeed.
The Minions: The Rise of Gru trailer is incredibly fun. The Illumination film will hit theaters on July 1.