Ultimate Dolph

The long-awaited “Minions” sequel, dubbed “The Rise of Gru” will open the festival with a screening on Monday, June 13 in the Grande Salle de Bonlieu.

The next chapter in the “Despicable Me” film franchise tells the backstory of how Gru — the world’s greatest supervillain — met his Minions, forming “cinema’s most despicable crew” and facing off against the criminal supergroup, the Vicious 6.

“The Minions franchise is inextricably linked to Annecy,” stated Marcel Jean, the festival’s artistic director. “As early as 2010, ‘Despicable Me’ made its mark at the event, and since then each film in the series has started its success here. Annecy’s enthusiastic audience is the best there is to uproariously celebrate the return of this happy crew who is the symbol of success for Illumination.”

“We are hoping to see the public return in large numbers to cinema theaters and we all need frivolity and laughter. This is why Minions: The Rise of Gru seemed the perfect film for us to open the Festival’s 2022 edition,” added Jean. “It is also the opportunity for the Festival to highlight both French and American expertise. We thank Illumination and Universal Pictures for offering this wonderful gift to the festival-goers.”

Universal will release Minions: The Rise of Gru on July 1, and in cinemas across France on July 6.

Dolph Lundgren as Swedish roller-skate champion Svengeance, who dispenses his enemies with spin kicks from his spiked skates

Decca Records has announced a soundtrack album for Illumination’s animated comedy Minions: The Rise of Gru. The album is produced by Grammy Award winner Jack Antonoff features the new track Turn Up the Sunshine by Diana Ross ft. Tame Impala (to be released as a digital single on May 20), St. Vincent’s cover of Lipps Inc’s Funkytown, H.E.R.’s rendition of Sly and The Family Stone’s Dance to the Music, Bleachers’ version of John Lennon’s Instant Karma! and Phoebe Bridgers’ interpretation of The Carpenters’ 1972 Goodbye to Love, as well as the Minions’ performance of Simon & Garfunkel’s Cecilia. Also included is a score suite by the film’s composer Heitor Pereira (Despicable Me, The Smurfs, The Angry Birds Movie). The soundtrack will be released digitally, on 3-panel CD digipack, standard black double LP, yellow & blue splattered double LP, yellow cassette and a limited-edition picture disc on July 1. Visit Amazon to pre-order the CD and vinyl editions. Minions: The Rise of Gru is directed by Kyle Balda, co-directed by Brad Ableson & Jonathan del Vaand and features the voices of Steve Carell, Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, Lucy Lawless, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Russell Brand, Danny Trejo, Julie Andrews and Alan Arkin. The animated feature is set in the 1970s and tells the origin story of how Gru first met his Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled. The movie will be released in theaters nationwide on July 1 by Universal Pictures.

Decca Records has released the original song Turn Up the Sunshine from the animated feature Minions: The Rise of Gru. The track written by Jack Antonoff (who also produced the song), Patrik Berger, Sam Dew & Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) and performed by Diana Ross ft. Tame Impala is now available to stream/download on all major digital music platforms, including Amazon. Also listen to the song after the jump. A full soundtrack album will be released digitally and physically on July 1. Check out our previous article for the full album details. Minions: The Rise of Gru is directed by Kyle Balda, co-directed by Brad Ableson & Jonathan del Vaand and stars Steve Carell, Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews and Alan Arkin. The Illumination Entertainment production will open in theaters nationwide on July 1.