It was just last week when Illumination announced that MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU was bowing out of its late June and early July release windows, and now, the highly-anticipated animated sequel has been scheduled for July 2, 2021. Originally, the July 2 slot belonged to SING 2, which will now head to theaters on December 22, 2021, domestically speaking. Meanwhile, with Universal shifting release dates to and fro as part of an effort to combat the scheduling effects of COVID-19, it's been announced that the studio's adaptation of Wicked has been pulled from its holiday 2021 launch, thereby leaving the musical feature undated for the time being.
The delay of MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU stems from Illumination having to shutter their studios in France. As a result, post-production work on the film would not be completed before the film's intended launch on July 3, 2020. Furthermore, even if the work were to get done, there's no telling if theaters will be open in time for the film's release. Can you even imagine if the Minions sequel were to lose out on all those family dollars that are bound to come pouring in when the pill-shaped, slapstick-happy helpers return to the big screen? Theaters and studios both are already going to have so much ground to cover once things return to "normal," and that Minion money is bound to serve as decent padding for an already bumpy 2020 theatrical release year.
Here's the official plot synopsis for MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU:
In the heart of the 1970s, amidst a flurry of feathered hair and flared jeans, Gru (Steve Carell) is growing up in the suburbs. A fanboy of a supervillain supergroup known as the Vicious 6, Gru hatches a plan to become evil enough to join them. Luckily, he gets some mayhem-making back-up from his loyal followers, the Minions. Together, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto – a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please – deploy their skills as they and Gru build their first lair, experiment with their first weapons, and pull off their first missions. When the Vicious 6 oust their leader, legendary fighter Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin), Gru interviews to become their newest member. It doesn't go well (to say the least), and only gets worse after Gru outsmarts them and suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. On the run, Gru will turn to an unlikely source for guidance, Wild Knuckles, and discover that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.
Co-directed by Kyle Balda, Brad Ableson and Jonathan del Val, MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU boasts an astonishingly impressive cast, of which includes Steve Carell as Gru; Alan Arkin as Wild Knuckles; Jean-Claude Van Damme, yes, Jean-Claude Van Damme as Jean Clawed; Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck; Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow; Julie Andrews as Marlena Gru; the Dolph Lundgren as Svengeance; Taraji P. Henson as Belle Bottom; Danny Trejo as Stronghold; and Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario!
MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU will now open on July 2, 2021.