The latest animated franchise to hit the box office features the return of the reformed super villain Gru and his lovable, gibberish-speaking Minions in Despicable Me 3.
Videos by ComicBook.com
The film is loaded with tons of references and easter eggs and a breakneck blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pace, but one of them explains the absence of a major character in the series while homaging one of the most beloved entries in the Star Wars saga of films.
Gru’s ally Dr. Nefario, voiced by Russell Brand, had a role in both previous Despicable Me movies and even had a cameo in the Minions spinoff. He’s noticeably absent in the new movie, likely because it would be overcrowded with Gru’s brother Dru and Kristen Wiig’s character Miss Hattie playing big roles.
Nefario is actually frozen in carbonite, as pointed out by Flicks and the City, in an overt nod to Han Solo‘s fate in the Empire Strikes Back.
Brand did not reprise his role for this third installment in the franchise, but it’s awesome to see the character being included even if it’s with a minor easter egg. The movie earns bonus points because it referenced one of the greatest Star Wars moments in the saga’s history with this sneaky inclusion.
Check out Flicks and the City’s video for even more easter eggs in the animated movie.
Despicable Me 3 is in theaters now.
MORE DESPICABLE ME 3 NEWS: Despicable Me 3 Falls Short Of Projections, Wins Weekend Box Office / Exclusive Interview With ‘Despicable Me 3’ Star Dana Gaier / Despicable Me 3 Is The Go-To Animated Adventure Of The Summer – Official Review / New Despicable Me 3 TV Spot Debuts
The mischievous Minions hope that Gru will return to a life of crime after the new boss of the Anti-Villain League fires him. Instead, Gru decides to remain retired and travel to Freedonia to meet his long-lost twin brother for the first time. The reunited siblings soon find themselves in an uneasy alliance to take down the elusive Balthazar Bratt, a former 1980s child star who seeks revenge against the world.
Despicable Me 3 will be directed by Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin, and Eric Guillon, with Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul handling the screenplay. The film stars Steve Carell (Gru / Dru), Kristen Wiig (Lucy Wilde), Miranda Cosgrove (Margo), Dana Gaier (Edith), Nev Scharrel (Agnes), Trey Parker (Balthazar Bratt), Russell Brand (Dr. Nefario), Andy Nyman (Clive), Pierre Coffin (Kevin the Minion / Bob the Minion / Stuart the Minion / additional Minions) and Michael Beattie (The Scar-Faced Man).
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