Honestly, if you thought we’d have to wait until 2027 to see Kevin, Stuart, and Bob again, you aren’t alone. For a long time, that was the plan. But Hollywood schedules are fickle things, and the Minions 3 release date just got a massive shot of adrenaline.
Universal and Illumination officially moved the goalposts. Instead of that distant 2027 window, the threequel is now firmly locked in for July 1, 2026.
That is huge. It’s a summer takeover.
The Big Date Swap: Why 2026?
Why the rush? It basically comes down to a high-stakes game of musical chairs between Universal’s biggest franchises. Originally, DreamWorks (which Universal also owns) had Shrek 5 sitting in that July 2026 slot. But animation takes time—a lot of it. Shrek wasn't quite ready for the limelight, so it got bumped to December 2026.
The Minions, being the reliable box-office juggernauts they are, stepped right into that prime Independence Day weekend slot.
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It makes sense. The franchise just crossed the $5 billion mark globally after Despicable Me 4 tore up the charts in 2024. Illumination knows that when the weather gets hot, people want to sit in a dark room and watch yellow chaos agents scream about bananas. July 1st is the perfect "tentpole" date.
Who Is Actually Making This One?
If you're worried about the vibe changing, don't be. The "Band" is getting back together.
Pierre Coffin is returning to direct. If that name doesn't ring a bell, his voice definitely will—he's the guy who actually voices the Minions. He’s been the soul of the franchise since 2010. Having him at the helm (this time co-directing with Patrick Delage, a veteran from the Sing and Despicable Me teams) means the slapstick DNA is safe.
Brian Lynch is writing the script. He’s the one who penned the first Minions and The Secret Life of Pets. He knows how to write for characters who don't actually speak a real language.
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The Voice Cast (So Far)
While we don't have a full "official" list of every new villain yet, a few things are basically guaranteed:
- Pierre Coffin: He’s the Minions. All of them.
- Steve Carell: It wouldn't be a Minion movie without some version of Gru, likely the younger "Rising Gru" version we've been following in the prequels.
- The Speculation: Rumors are swirling about new A-list villains. Despicable Me 4 gave us Will Ferrell; expect Minions 3 to pull another massive name out of the hat.
What’s the Story This Time?
Illumination is notoriously tight-lipped. They guard their plot points like the crown jewels. But we can look at the timeline.
Minions: The Rise of Gru ended with a young Gru and his yellow army riding off into the sunset with Wild Knuckles. We are still in the "prequel" era. There is a massive gap of time between Gru being a kid in the 70s and the first Despicable Me where he's a fully grown, middle-aged supervillain.
Minions 3 will likely bridge more of that gap. We might see the construction of the iconic underground lab. We might see the first time they encounter a young Dr. Nefario. Or, honestly? It might just be a 90-minute heist involving a very specific type of cheese. With this franchise, you never really know.
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The Streaming Factor: Where to Watch
If you aren't a "theater person," the rollout plan is already pretty clear because of Universal's deal with Netflix and Peacock.
- Theaters: July 1, 2026.
- Peacock: Expect it to land here roughly 4 months later (around November 2026).
- Netflix: After four months on Peacock, it moves to Netflix for a 10-month stint.
This "windowing" has worked wonders for their previous movies. It keeps the "Minion Mania" alive for basically two years straight.
Preparing for the Chaos
It’s easy to dismiss these movies as just "kid stuff," but the numbers don't lie. They are some of the most successful movies ever made. The shift to 2026 shows that Universal is betting the entire summer on these guys.
What you should do next:
If you're a fan (or a parent of a fan), keep an eye out for the first teaser trailer. Historically, Illumination drops their first looks about 6 months before release. That means we should see the first Minions 3 footage around January or February 2026.
Until then, you've got plenty of time to rewatch the "Mega Minions" arc from the last film to catch any potential easter eggs. The 2026 slate is getting crowded, but the yellow guys usually find a way to come out on top.