Those lovable minions return in the first teaser trailer for "Despicable Me 2," which hits theaters July 3.
There's no sign of Gru (Steve Carell) or the girls, but they'll all be back. Joining the party: Al Pacino, in his first animated film. Producer Chris Meledandri told Collider that having Pacino on board as the villain is, "So exciting! That's a highlight of one's career. That's crazy, wonderful and incredible."
The film also features the voices of Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, and Russell Brand. Another Oscar winner, Javier Bardem, was set at one point to voice the new villain, but when he dropped out, Pacino stepped in.
Meledandri says that his team has just started animation and that pressure is high to live up to the first film, which grossed $251.5 million domestically and $543 million globally. "We all, collectively, are united in our hopes [for the film]. It's very hard to set your sights on, 'Will we live up to it?,' rather than, 'Will we continually push ourselves to take what audiences loved about the first one and then go beyond it, so that we never feel like we're playing it safe?'"
The minions also star in the first one-sheet from the film, which you can see at Comingsoon.net.
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