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Minions Paid Previews on July 1/4/5

Audiences everywhere have become transfixed by the Minions and were more than curious to understand where Gru’s loyal and haphazard crew came from, who they were before they met their ultimate master and what other adventures they’d been on since they appeared on our planet.

Their Origin Story: Minions Begins

After the unprecedented success of both the blockbuster Despicable Me and its beloved follow up, the Academy Award®-nominated juggernaut Despicable Me 2, there was a global appetite for more stories from the world that was created in Illumination Entertainment’s inaugural series.

After their first collaboration, Lynch was next asked to write Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem based on the series, which would go on to become an enormously popular ride at both Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. Park guests could interact up close with the Minions, and they just couldn’t get enough of them.

To develop this intricately detailed world, Lynch—who also works in the medium of comic books as a writer—immersed himself in all things Minion. Of course, when he worked with the theme parks, he’d memorized every detail of both Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2—as well as the numerous Minions shorts that accompanied the films’ home-entertainment releases—by watching them repeatedly and referencing the source material religiously.

“Having Minion voices in your head can be scary, but it was really helpful in this case,” laughs Lynch. “Fortunately, Pierre does the voice of the Minions, so anytime I had a question about how they would act, he knew.” Crafting dialogue for the mischievous characters, however, was a bit trickier than deciding upon a narrative for them to follow. “The hardest part is that our three leads don’t speak English. Still, Pierre is wonderful at conveying what they’re trying to say.”

Groovy Tunes: Music of the Film

Among its myriad of assets, the Despicable Me series is known for its infectious music and lyrics. So when it came time to creating the signature sounds for Minions, the production team knew that setting the film in the ’60s would allow the opportunity to feature a soundtrack of music that continues to inspire and influence today’s culture.

To take Kevin, Stuart and Bob on their groovy journey, the film is replete with the best of the ’60s, including The Beatles’ “Got to Get You Into My Life,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze,” The Turtles’ “Happy Together,” The Spencer Davis Group’s “I’m a Man,” The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me,” The Who’s “My Generation” and Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow,” bringing key scenes in the film to vibrant life.

When it came time to compose the Minions score, the team looked to returning composer Heitor Pereira of Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2, a man whom writer Lynch refers to as “a tornado of emotion.” The Grammy Award-winning musician has written and produced music for films ranging from blockbuster family hits to acclaimed dramas. Of working with Pereira for the third time, Coffin commends: “Who could orchestrate a movie better than the one who worked on the Despicable Me movies? This one was even more interesting for Heitor because it’s a prequel. He was able to play around with what was the Minions’ theme before the Despicable Me movies.”

Minions is the first time the audience has been able to see very distinct, individual personalities, especially in heroes Kevin, Stuart and Bob. Pereira shares how that informed the composition of his score: “They each have their own themes. Kevin is the most fatherly in this group of three. He’s always the more responsible one. Bob is the sweet and loving part of it. And Stuart is the crazy one. The music for Bob, it’s more of almost like a childlike melody, and Stuart is the one who allows the music to go anywhere it wants to go.”

The story of our Minions takes us through several time periods, from the Stone Age to ’60s Manhattan and London. Pereira’s score takes us through each era alongside Kevin, Stuart and Bob.

Who’s Who in Minions?

The loyal, yellow, scheming and joyous Minions (Pierre Coffin) are a band of brothers who love causing mischief and mayhem almost as much as they love bananas. They are easily distracted and can be unpredictable, curious and subversively sweet. They are extremely competitive with each other. This can lead to sudden slap fights, but if someone from the outside tries to harm them or their master, they become fiercely protective.

Kevin

Kevin is the proud and protective “big brother” who knows that Minions without a master are Minions without a purpose. It’s Kevin who steps up and ventures out into the world with Stuart and Bob to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow.

Stuart

Stuart is the “middle brother” of the Minions who feels hungry, mostly, and loves being a rebellious guitar player. Although the perennial adolescent has a short attention span and is a bit apathetic about the mission, he will certainly help Kevin and Bob find the biggest, baddest villain to serve.

Bob

Bob is the innocent and eager “little brother” of the Minions. He embodies unconditional love for everyone and everything, and is a little nervous to go on an unknown journey with Stuart and Kevin.

Mr. Scarlet Overkill & Mr. Herb Overkill

Scarlet Overkill is the world’s first female super-villain. She is a unique combination of quick-tempered and impeccably stylish. Kevin, Stuart and Bob are drawn to her for her ability to mastermind incredible heists, and they are simultaneously terrified of and smitten by her.

Herb Overkill is Scarlet’s mod husband and a mad scientist. Herb can usually be found in the lab inventing extraordinary ’60s-inspired gadgetry while always loving and supporting Scarlet. Known just as much for his swanky sartorial choices as he is for his ability to invent, there is nothing that Herb won’t do to champion his wife.

Mr. Walter Nelson & Mrs. Madge Nelson

Walter Nelson is not a straight-laced, nerdy dad and devoted husband. He is a quite-accomplished bank robber. Walter is the patriarch of a crime-happy family of felons who meet Kevin, Stuart and Bob on their way to Villain-Con, a secret convention in Orlando where villains gather annually.

Madge Nelson, the Bonnie to Walter’s Clyde, shows you can never judge a book by its cover. Madge gleefully is the co-leader of the crime-happy Nelson family.

Synopsis

The story of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Minions begins at the dawn of time. Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters—from T. rex to Napoleon—the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression.

But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he—alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob—ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow.

The trio embarks upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind...from annihilation.

Featuring a soundtrack of hit music from the ’60s that still permeates our culture today, Minions is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and is directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. Brian Lynch has written the screenplay for the 3D-CG comedy adventure, and Chris Renaud serves as executive producer of the film.