DESPICABLE ME 4 Footage Leaks Online And Introduces Gru Jr., The Former Supervillain's Baby!

Seven years have passed since Despicable Me 3 was released in theaters and the fourth instalment, Despicable Me 4, is finally heading our way this summer. 

The movie is being directed by Chris Renaud, co-directed by Patrick Delage (in his feature directorial debut), produced by Chris Meledandri, and written by Mike White. Production is thought to have started way back in September 2017, though the movie - which is the sixth chapter overall including the Minions movies - wasn't officially announced until early 2022.

Few details have been revealed about Despicable Me 4 before now, though we know it will feature the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, and Steve Coogan.

Rumour has it that a trailer is dropping imminently (UPDATE: it has and can be found by clicking here), in the meantime, a TV spot has leaked online showing Gru and his family embarking on a mission together...with the expected hilarity ensuing, of course. We also see a baby we have to assume is his and Lucy's son, and the Minions are shown dressed in heist gear of their own (a very toyetic idea on Illumination's part).

It looks like a lot of fun, anyway, and we'd be shocked if it isn't another hit for Illumination given how well Minions: The Rise of Gru performed in 2022.

"It's a continuation of the story," Carell said of the movie a couple of years ago. "Gru and Lucy are married; they're a family at this point. It's the next step in their world with the Anti-Villain League and how their kids are included in the whole process."

"It's the most logical next step in the continuation of their story as a family together."

The Despicable Me franchise, produced by Illumination Entertainment, follows the transformation of Gru from a supervillain to a loving adoptive father. In the first film, Gru adopts three orphaned girls, Margo, Edith, and Agnes, while attempting to steal the moon.

Despicable Me 2 sees Gru recruited by the Anti-Villain League to stop a new threat, forming a romantic connection with agent Lucy Wilde. In Despicable Me 3, Gru discovers a twin brother, Dru, and the duo confront a new villain, Balthazar Bratt. The spin-off Minions franchise explores the origins of the lovable yellow creatures.

Despicable Me 4 is set to be released in theatres on July 3. The first footage from this fourth instalment can be viewed by heading to Reddit (it's also floating around on X if it's gone by the time you're reading this).