With the massive success of DESPICABLE ME 2 last summer, Universal is upping the ante with the announcement that DESPICABLE ME 3 will be hitting theaters in 2017. This comes in addition to the already in production spin-off prequel MINIONS featuring the voices of Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm. DESPICABLE ME 2’s worlwide gross of $935 million (on a $78 million budget) pretty much guaranteed that we would be seeing Gru and company for another adventure. Despite middling reviews, families flocked to the sequel while also providing Dreamworks and Pixar with a new contender for the animation crown in Hollywood.
Universal and Illumination Entertainment also announced that they will release their second Dr. Seuss adaptation with HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS in time for the Holiday season in 2017. Illumination had a hit with THE LORAX in 2012 featuring the voices of Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift, Ed Helms, and Zack Efron. After two mediocre live action Seuss films, Illumination brought some life back to the immortal stories.
Illumination also announced a second film to be released on December 21, 2016 but did not reveal any further details. MINIONS is slated to hit theaters on July 10, 2015 with an untitled film set for February 12, 2016. DESPICABLE ME 3 will bow June 30, 2017 followed by HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS on November 17, 2017.