The Minions Could Be Around For A Long, Long Time

Since Despicable Me premiered in 2010, the franchise has been an unflappable juggernaut in the world of children's movies. The minions have become so deeply integrated into our pop culture iconography that the catchphrase "It's so fluffy!" immediately stirs up images on Gru's adopted unicorn-loving daughter, Agnes. With Despicable Me 3 coming out on Friday, the franchise pretty much seems unstoppable, but are more Despicable Me movies coming soon?

The short answer: It's unknown whether a Despicable Me 4 will happen. If you consult the IMDb pages of the Despicable Me actors like Steve Carrell (who voices Gru), then you'll see no mention of Despicable Me 4 in the lineup of projects he's signed on to do through 2019. This is also true for Kristen Wiig, Julie Andrews, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, and Nev Scharrel, who are also considered the core Despicable Me cast.

Now, this doesn't mean that a fourth movie can't happen. Not only would there imaginably be an audience in place and ready to continue to enjoy the adventures of Gru & Co., but this is the kind of movie world that can be endlessly mined for stories. It also makes sense that a fourth movie is not planned since it's typical for contracts to comprise three-film agreements, especially with a film that's not necessarily part of a superhero, multi-film deal.

What will most likely decide whether or not a fourth movie happens is how well Despicable Me 3 does at the box office; this is the usual modus operandi for studios with profitable films who haven't planned on further sequels. If Despicable Me 3 kills at the box office, then it will only work in Illumination Studios' favor to really consider a fourth film.

So, if you're a fan of Gru and the Minions and you want more of their adventures (and fast), make sure to get your rear in a seat for Despicable Me 3 the first weekend it's out. I mean, who wouldn't want more Minions coming their way?