Summary

  • Despicable Me 4 continues the story of Gru, the reformed supervillain, as he tries to bond with his infant son and protect his family from a new threat.
  • The original cast, including Steve Carell as Gru and Kristen Wiig as Lucy, will be returning for the fourth film in the franchise.
  • With its release in 2024, Despicable Me 4 is expected to surpass $5 billion in franchise earnings, thanks to its original story and lovable characters.

Despicable Me 4 is the next entry in Illumination Studio’s hugely popular animated franchise, and much of the original cast is returning to continue the story of international super villain Gru. The main plot of Despicable Me 4 will see the protagonist and his family adjusting to the newest arrival: Gru Jr. The trailer for Despicable Me 4 confirms Gru's attempts to get his new baby to like him, but it also reveals that the family will be on the run from the newly escaped Maxime Le Mal. In the midst of all this, Gru will teach Gru Jr. his profession — with seemingly hilarious results.

Despicable Me 4 is set to hit theaters on July 3, 2024, seven years after Despicable Me 3 came out. With its original story and adorable new character, Despicable Me 4 is almost guaranteed to bring the franchise over the $5 billion line. Gru Jr. presents an opportunity for fun new relationship dynamics within the series, but it'll be fun to catch up with Despicable Me's established cast of characters, most of whom will be back for Gru's latest adventure.

Steve Carell As Gru

Actor: Steve Carell, 61, was born in Concord, Massachusetts in 1962 and is best known for his role as Michael Scott in The Office. His breakout movie was The 40-Year-Old Virgin, where he starred as the lead character, Andy Stitzer. Carell has a long background in comedy, appearing in hits like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy; Crazy, Stupid, Love; and of course, the first three Despicable Me movies. Carell has also shown his range in a few serious projects, like the FX series The Patient and the 2014 film Foxcatcher, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Bruce Almighty (2003), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Over the Hedge (2006), Evan Almighty (2007), Horton Hears a Who! (2008), Get Smart (2008), Despicable Me (2010), Dinner for Schmucks (2010), Saturday Night Live (1996-2011), Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), The Office (2005-2013), Despicable Me 2 (2013), Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), Neighbors (2014), Foxcatcher (2014), Minions (2015), The Big Short (2015), Despicable Me 3 (2017), The Morning Show (2019-2021), Space Force (2020-2022), Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), The Patient (2022).

Character: Beginning his journey as an international super villain on a fruitless conquest to steal the moon from the sky, Gru has undergone some serious development over the course of the Despicable Me series. In the fourth film, he’s fighting against the world’s super villains with the help of his wife Lucy, their adopted children, and his new son. This sequel should see further progression in Gru’s transformation from villain to hero, as he’s forced to grapple with the consequences of villainy on a family that he’s grown to love and care for.

Kristen Wiig As Lucy Wilde

Actor: Kristen Wiig, 50, was born in Canandaigua, New York in 1973. The 2011 romance-comedy Bridesmaids was Wiig's breakout movie role, though she'd already made a name for herself on the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live. Like Carell, Wiig has proven her comedy chops over the course of her career — and through her time in the Despicable Me franchise. She's also lent her voice to the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, The Looney Tunes Show, and Big Mouth, so she's built a background in voice acting as well.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Knocked Up (2007), Adventureland (2009), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Whip It (2009), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Despicable Me (2010), Bridesmaids (2011), Arrested Development (2013), Despicable Me 2 (2013), The Looney Tunes Show (2011-2013), The Simpsons (2011-2013), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), The Martian (2015), Zoolander 2 (2016), Sausage Party (2016), Ghostbusters (2016), Despicable Me 3 (2017), Saturday Night Live (2005-2019), Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), Big Mouth (2017-2022).

Character: The character of Lucy Wilde was first introduced in Despicable Me 2, where she was forced to assist Gru after he was initiated into the Anti-Villain League. Despite initial conflicts in their methods, the pair soon fell in love and started a new life together. Despicable Me 4 sees the couple happily married and looking after their children, though the call of duty keeps bringing them back into action. Like the previous two movies in the franchise, Despicable Me 4 will focus on Lucy’s relationship with Gru and explore exactly how it’s being affected by their work for the Anti-Villain League and new son.

Miranda Cosgrove As Margo

An image of Margo looking surprised in Despicable Me and Miranda Cosgrove smiling

Actor: Miranda Cosgrove, 30, was born in Los Angeles, California in 1993. Cosgrove made a name for herself as a child star, playing Megan Parker in the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh and the titular lead in iCarly. Her breakout movie role was in School of Rock, where she starred as Summer Hathaway. Cosgrove has continued making content for younger audiences throughout her acting career, recently appearing in an iCarly reboot and repeatedly lending her voice to the Despicable Me franchise. She's also found success as a singer and musician.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: School of Rock (2003), Drake & Josh (2004-2007), Zoey 101 (2007), The Wild Stallion (2009), Despicable Me (2010), A Mouse Tale (2012), iCarly (2007-2012), Despicable Me 2 (2013), The Intruders (2015), Crowded (2016), Despicable Me 3 (2017), 3022 (2019), The Goldbergs (2020), iCarly (2021-2023).

Character: Margo has been an important part of the Despicable Me franchise from the beginning, as she's the older sister of Agnes and Edith. The three orphans were adopted by Gru in the first movie, originally as a ploy for his evil plans. However, they ultimately won his heart and grew into a real family. Margo is the smartest of the siblings, and she's also got a sharp wit.

Dana Gaier As Edith

An image of Edith smiling in Despicable Me and Dana Gaier looking confused

Actor: Dana Gaier, 26, was born in New Jersey in 1997. Despicable Me was Gaier's breakout movie role, and she's appeared in limited projects since. Among her prominent roles are Brie in 2017's The Ice Cream Truck, Demi in 2019’s Ernesto’s Manifesto and Sahar in On My Block. She's continued to appear in Despicable Me movies over the years, and she'll return for the fourth installment in 2024.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Despicable Me (2010), 30 Rock (2011), Despicable Me 2 (2013), Training Wheels (2013), Despicable Me 3 (2017), The Secret Life of Kyle (2017), Do You Want to See a Dead Body? (2017), The Ice Cream Truck (2017), Ernesto's Manifesto (2019), On My Block (2019-2020), Minions & More 1 (2022), Minions & More 2 (2022).

Character: Gaier plays Edith in the Despicable Me franchise, the middle child of Gru's adopted trio from the first movie. Typically donning an all-pink wardrobe and knit cap, Edith is something of a tomboy — and she's got a morbid approach to everything. Fitting for the middle child, Edith gets the least attention from the franchise. It'll be interesting to see how a new brother impacts her character arc in Despicable Me 4.

Madison Skyy Polan As Agnes

Agnes wearing a white dress and looking sideways in the Despicable Me franchise

Actor: Nine-year-old Madison Skyy Polan will voice Agnes for the first time in Despicable Me 4, taking over the role from Nev Scharrel. Despicable Me 4 marks the second time Agnes was recast, as Scharrel picked up the role from Elsie Fischer. Fischer voiced Agnes in Despicable Me and its direct sequel, but she'd gotten too mature for the part by the time Despicable 3 happened. This seems to be a trend for the character, who is the youngest of Gru's daughters. Polan has never appeared in a movie or TV show before, so this will be her breakout project.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Despicable Me 4 (2024).

Character: The youngest of Gru's adopted daughters, Agnes has the most vibrant personality. In fact, viewers will likely recognize her iconic phrase from the first Despicable Me: "It's so fluffy, I'm gonna die!" Given her young age, Agnes is somewhat naive, so she welcomes Gru with open arms, even during the first film. She loves unicorns and all things cute, and she'll no doubt take to Gru Jr. when he arrives in Despicable Me 4.

Will Ferrell As Maxime Le Mal

Split image of Will Ferrell surprised in Spirited 2 and Maxime Le Mal in Despicable Me 4

Actor: Will Ferrell, 56, was born in Irvine, California in 1967. His breakout role was as Mustafa in 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, and he followed this performance with A Night at the Roxbury just a year later. Ferrell has starred in many beloved comedies over the year, including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Elf, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Step Brothers, and more. He's also served as a producer on a number of well-known projects. Ferrell is a newcomer to the Despicable Me franchise, but his comedy skills make him a compelling addition.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), A Night at the Roxbury (1998), Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Zoolander (2001), Elf (2003), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Bewitched (2005), Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby (2006), Blades of Glory (2007), Semi-Pro (2008), Step Brothers (2008), Megamind (2010), The Office (2011), 30 Rock (2010-2012), Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), The Lego Movie (2014), Zoolander 2 (2016), Saturday Night Live (1995-2018), Spirited (2022), Barbie (2023).

Character: Ferrell will play the main villain of Despicable Me 4, Maxime Le Mal. Maxime escapes prison in the upcoming sequel, and the trailer reveals that he's hellbent on finding Gru and getting revenge. He'll be assisted by his girlfriend, Valentina, and the two promise to challenge Gru and his family as they attempt to track them down. Not much else is known about Maxime just yet, but his flashy appearance suggests he'll be an entertaining addition to the franchise. Additionally, his background with Gru will make him a compelling antagonist.

Despicable Me 4 Supporting Cast & Characters

A Minion laughing in Despicable Me

Pierre Coffin as The Minions: Although his characters don’t have many lines throughout the Despicable Me franchise, Pierre Coffin has consistently been responsible for providing the voices of Gru’s Minions. They’re the series’ main source of comic relief, with their goofy behavior and silly voices allowing for plenty of funny moments. Coffin is also responsible for co-directing all four movies in the Despicable Me series. The actor has also provided the voice of the Minions in other Illumination properties, such as The Grinch and Sing.

Sofia Vergara as Valentina: Sofia Vergara is a newcomer to the Despicable Me franchise, and she'll voice the girlfriend and sidekick of Ferrell's Maxime Le Mal. Judging by the trailer, she'll be nearly as flashy as he is. Vergara is probably best known for her role as Gloria in Modern Family, but she more recently starred as the titular drug lord in Netflix's Griselda.

Joey King as Poppy: Joey King also joins Despicable Me 4 as Poppy, a supporting character who wishes to become a supervillain. The trailer for the upcoming sequel shows off Poppy's dance moves, and she doesn't seem like the type of character to sport a smile. King's acting credits include The Act, The Kissing Booth, Bullet Train, and The Conjuring.

Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom: The British comedian, Steve Coogan, is set to reprise his role as the former Anti-Villain director Silas Ramsbottom in Despicable Me 4. While he has voiced several other characters in the franchise, such as Professor Flux and Blind Tower Guard, some viewers may know Coogan best for playing Alan Partridge, Tony Wilson in 2002's 24 Hour Party People, Martin Sixsmith in 2013's Philomena and Stan Laurel in 2018's Stan & Ollie.

Despicable Me 4 Poster showing Gru with his son and a Minon holding a gun
Despicable Me 4
Not Yet Rated
Animation
Adventure
Comedy

The infamous (and kind-hearted) not-super villain Gru returns in Despicable Me 4, the fourth entry in the long-running movie series from Illumination Entertainment. The fourth film also sees the return of Gru's wife, Lucy, portrayed again by Kristin Wiig, and introduces their son.

Director
Chris Renaud , Patrick Delage
Cast
Steve Carell , Kristen Wiig , Miranda Cosgrove , Steve Coogan , Pierre Coffin
Writers
Mike White
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures , Illumination Entertainment
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
prequel(s)
Despicable Me , Despicable Me 2 , Despicable Me 3
Franchise(s)
Despicable Me