PremiumDespicable Me 4 marks the end of Gru’s tale? Chris Renaud opens up on the future of the Minions franchise
The way Despicable Me 4 has performed at the box office makes its final scene very confusing because it feels like a swan song when it shouldn't be.
Gru's Story Ends With Despicable Me 4?
Last Updated: 03.48 PM, Aug 21, 2024
There’s always excitement when anything related to the Despicable Me universe is announced. We've seen four main films, along with a Minions spinoff that has produced two movies and a third in the works. This franchise is considered one of the most successful animated series in cinema history, and that claim is no exaggeration. The fourth film in the main franchise, Despicable Me 4, crossed the $800 million mark at the global box office, proving the immense potential this IP holds. However, what's even more exciting is that the creators have already confirmed Minions 3 for 2027. But the big question on everyone's mind is what happens to Gru's storyline, especially since the last scene felt like a farewell of sorts.
Gru's Story Ends With Despicable Me 4?
Despicable Me has been running for over a decade, first hitting the big screen in 2010. As the franchise evolves, changes are inevitable, and we’ve already seen some in Despicable Me 4. The tone is more mature, and the approach feels more evolved. But that’s not all—the climax hints at the possible end of Gru’s story, which could signal the end of the franchise as we know it. However, that might not be the case; it could simply mean the end of one chapter, making way for another. Director Chris Renaud recently spoke about this. Read on to find out more.
Discussing the significant moment at the end of Despicable Me 4, Chris Renaud, a veteran of the franchise, revealed that for him, it felt like a kind of closure. Even if it’s only temporary and not final, it was still a major moment he had envisioned for a long time. According to Comicbook, he said, “Look, I can only speak for myself, and I was a big part of pushing that scene and how it came together, and for me, yes.”
He continued, “And what I mean is, listen, I know that Despicable Me 4 is doing so well in theaters. They’ve already got Minions 3 lined up. But I thought it was an interesting opportunity, given the 15—heck, 16 or 17 years for me personally working on it—to bring some of the characters across the ‘universe’ together for this great moment. It was sort of a fun reunion/crossover. You’ve seen something like this in Deadpool & Wolverine. It’s part of the language now. So, for me, I will admit that I thought of it that way while also fully understanding that it probably wouldn’t be [final].”
Later in the conversation, Chris Renaud discussed how new filmmakers often enter a franchise and take over the storytelling duties, especially with superhero films. The same could happen with Despicable Me. This might be a hint that Renaud is bidding farewell to the franchise, and the scene was his swan song.
The Climax Scene
In the climax of Despicable Me 4, Gru participates in a talent show at a prison alongside the villain Maxime Le Mal. As they begin singing "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," all the villains from the Despicable Me franchise appear on screen, joining the two performers. It feels like a live history lesson from the Minions universe, possibly bidding farewell to Gru and his Minions.
You can watch the Despicable Me and Minions films on Zee5. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.