Overview
- Illumination confirmed on June 21, 2026 that George Lucas recorded a voice role for Minions & Monsters after producer Chris Meledandri disclosed the casting to Collider.
- Lucas recorded his lines in Paris, according to production reporting, marking a rare public creative participation since he sold Lucasfilm in 2012.
- Meledandri says a meeting with Lucas about two years ago revealed the director’s affection for the Despicable Me franchise and led the creative team to propose and quickly cast a new character for him.
- Minions & Monsters is set in 1920s Hollywood, features an ensemble voice cast including Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg and Zoey Deutch, premiered on the festival circuit at Annecy and opens wide in U.S. cinemas on July 1, 2026.
- Meledandri says Lucas is already discussing returning for another Minions entry, a development that could give Illumination added festival and marketing cachet and make high-profile cameos a repeat element of the franchise.