If the idea of a live-action Minions movie makes you shudder, you’re not the only one

Chris Renaud, who directed the first two and fourth films in the Despicable Me franchise, shot down the potential of a live-action treatment of the mischievous banana-loving helpers. 

“God, I hope not,” Renaud said bluntly when asked by Film Hounds if there was a possibility of Illumination and Universal exploring live-action movies within the franchise. “That’s my answer.” 

Studios like Disney have found box-office success in remaking animated classics, such as 2019’s The Lion King and Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Alice in Wonderland (2010), all of which have crossed the $1 billion box office threshold. Upcoming films like Mufasa: The Lion King and a live-action Moana hope to recreate that profitability.  

“I mean if there were conversations [about live-action remakes], I haven’t been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated, and it allows us to get away with what we get away with,” Renaud said. “Like locking a minion in the vending machine or blowing up Gru when he attacks Vector [voiced by Jason Segel]. These are really cartoon ideas, like what would have been in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.”

Since its inaugural 2010 film, the family-oriented Despicable Me franchise has grossed $5.3 billion, overtaking other behemoths like Transformers and Avatar. As such, it is the biggest animated franchise of all time globally. 

Renaud added, “I think it just becomes something completely different if you do a live-action version. For me personally, not very appealing. But again, who knows what can happen but that’s my personal feeling about it.”