Sustaining the magic of a franchise is not an easy feat for filmmakers and producers, especially in the ever-evolving and competitive landscape of Hollywood. But few film series like the Despicable Me franchise are doing wonders, even after being animated films with a compact audience base.
Therefore, after releasing their fourth installment recently, the Despicable Me 4 director offered an intriguing update about the future of the franchise. During a recent Variety interview, filmmaker Chris Renaud stated the possibility of another sequel, after the whirlwind opening for Illumination’s latest.
Despicable Me 4 Director Hinted at Another Potential Sequel
Following the iconic opening for Illumination’s latest installment Despicable Me 4, filmmaker Chris Renaud sat for an interview with Variety. Addressing the franchise’s roots in France, especially after introducing a French villain in the latest sequel, Renaud went on to discuss the possibility of future installments.
Teasing fans with the possibility of another sequel, Chris Renaud clarified that it will initially depend on theater-goers. Stating how Universal Studios will proceed with the idea of Despicable Me 5, only after the current installment prevails with staggering numbers at the box office, Renaud discussed other elements that will decide the fate of the potential installment.
Luckily, following in the footsteps of its predecessors, earning $544M, $975M, and $1B respectively, the latest installment has already bagged $146M at the domestic box office and is awaiting to build on that impressive number (via The Numbers). So, as of now, the only thing that remains to be addressed is the potential storyline for the future sequel.
If we come up with a good story and it feels like we can cover some fresh territory, then certainly it’s possible.
With the possibility of bringing back Maxime Le Mal in the future installment, director Chris Renaud stated that the entire idea will eventually depend on the story they’re trying to tell. If the script for the next sequel turns out promising then fans might get to enjoy Despicable Me 5 at the theaters.
Challenges and Uphill Tasks Awaiting the Despicable Me Franchise
Certainly, the storyline stands as the most crucial aspect that will require to be taken care of, if Universal Studios and Illumination greenlight another sequel. The team will have to reinvent and find fresh ground to avoid repetition in the next installment. However, this challenge is not unique to Despicable Me, as few animated franchises have managed to maintain their quality and box office success over multiple sequels.
One notable exception remains the Toy Story franchise, which has consistently delivered critically acclaimed and commercially successful films across four installments. Debuting in 1995, the film series birthed three sequels, with each surpassing the previous installment at the box office.
Beginning with $365M earnings, Toy Story 3 and 4, both bagged over $1B at the box office, via The Numbers. However, as per critical acclaim, the first two sequels earned 100% RT rating but ended up losing a few scores for the last two sequels (98% and 97% respectively).
Similarly, the Madagascar film series began with a staggering box office collection of $556M in 2005 and with each passing installment there appeared a surge in box office number as well as ratings. Initially beginning with 55% RT rating, the franchise eventually witnessed 78% rating for Madagascar 3, that earned $746M in 2012, via The Numbers.
Even for The Incredibles, the film franchise beginning with $631M and 97% RT rating in 2004, managed to grow many folds in box office numbers in 2018. The sequel earned over $1B, but unfortunately witnessed a reduced rating of 93%. However, not every animated franchise had this promising box office fate.
A few animated sequels like The Ice Age franchise, Cars, and even Shrek saw diminishing returns with each sequel, culminating in a disappointing run. Therefore, in order to maintain a graceful run with another sequel, the Despicable Me franchise needs to maintain its signature humor and charm, while bringing an innovative and refreshing storyline to the table.
Despicable Me 4 is currently running in theaters, worldwide.
