Warning: This list contains spoilers for Minions: The Rise of Gru!
After several delays, Minions: The Rise of Gru, the latest entry into the Despicable Me franchise, has been released and has got the world buzzing about the supervillain franchise. The Minions (2015) prequel introduced several new characters and plotlines, opening up a whole new host of possibilities for the series to take its stories.
With Despicable Me 4 eying a potential 2024 release date, and more Minions prequels seeming likely, there are countless directions in which the story of Gru and the surrounding Despicable Me characters from his past and present can be continued.
A New Villain For Gru To Battle
The most likely option, the Despicable Me franchise has been able to craft a captivating new supervillain for Gru and the Minions to square off against in every single film of the series so far. There's no reason for it to be any different from the next film.
Having already done villains inspired by Lucha libre and 80s music videos, the possibilities are truly endless for whatever gimmick they want to come up with for their next baddie. Should they go this route, there's no doubt that Gru will do battle with an adversary just as memorable as he is.
Vector Returns
Far and away the most beloved villain in the Despicable Me franchise, the clumsy yet clever Vector from the first movie is considered one of his voice actor Jason Segel's best movies. He has been turned into memes numerous times on the internet and remains a beloved and recognizable character.
Having the supremely stylish yet unbelievably dorky villain return to face off with Gru once more could draw tons of people into the movie theater. He was last seen stranded, but alive, on the moon, meaning his return isn't an impossibility.
Wild Knuckles and Gru Prequel
Minions: The Rise of Gru introduced the aging villain Wild Knuckles, at first an antagonist who kidnapped Gru, then later a friend and villainous mentor to him. The ending of the film implies that the two are just about to begin their lawless adventures together.
With so many years between The Rise of Gru and the original film, there's plenty of room for stories to be told about Wild Knuckles and Gru's years as a criminal duo. It could be very fun to see just how much Gru learned about being a supervillain from Wild Knuckles.
Wild Knuckles Prequel
With Wild Knuckles being such an elderly character, there's actually even more opportunity for telling stories with him from the time before he met Gru.
There is, of course, the option to tell about the early days of the Vicious Six and how Wild Knuckles founded it. Yet there is a possibility for the movie to go back even further and show Wild Knuckles's time as a rookie villain still learning the ropes in a very unique inversion of the hero becoming a mentor in the sequel trope.
Gru Versus Dru
Despicable Me 3 ended on a cliffhanger which saw Gru's brother, Dru, stealing Gru's aircraft and escape with his Minions. Gru and his wife Lucy, both current members of the Anti-Villain League, decide to give Dru a head start before chasing after him.
While it was possibly only a funny little gag to end the third film, it could be really interesting and entertaining to watch Gru square off against his brother for an entire story. There's plenty of stakes involved, especially if Gru grapples with whether he can really turn his brother in.
Lucy Prequel
Gru's wife, superspy Lucy Wilde, has become a beloved character in the franchise after being introduced in the first sequel, and yet her past remains unexplored. There hasn't even been a single nod or allusion to her in either of the Minions prequel films.
Doing a full-fledged Lucy story, whether it be in her youth or her early days in the Anti-Villain League could be a great way to better showcase such a strong female character in animation. It could be a nice change of pace for the series to see Lucy go up against a villain all on her own without Gru beside her.
The Vicious Six Return
While defeated and turned into insignificant rats at the end of The Rise of Gru, the Vicious Six don't perish, meaning there's still a possibility for them to come back. The spell that was cast upon them could even keep them from aging, which could play very fun with them facing off against a now-adult Gru, who ironically works for their biggest rival in the Anti-Villain League.
What's more, the five characters work well individually as well as a team, which could make for further comedy and character development. Seeing the Vicious Six come back for revenge against Gru, now with a family to protect, could make for very compelling viewing.
The Minions Find A New Master
One of the darker possibilities is that a new Despicable Me film could see the Minions search for a new boss after Gru dies, as their goal is always to serve the evilest master they can find.
The film could be set much farther down the timeline, after Gru has died of old age, meaning the clumsy Minions have to contend with all the new and unusual technology of the future. They could even end up working for a grown-up Margo, Edith, or Agnes. It would certainly be interesting, though truthfully very sad, to see what life after Gru is like for the Minions.
The Daughters Follow In Gru's Footsteps
Ever since becoming a father, Gru has attempted to live a moral life and set a good example for his daughters, his character arc is truly able to compete with some of the best father-child stories in animation. With that in mind, it would be hilarious for one, if not all, of his daughters to continue the family's legacy of evil and become supervillains themselves.
There hasn't been any indications that this could happen yet, but watching as Gru and Lucy attempt to stop their daughters from living the same life of crime that Gru did could be endlessly entertaining to watch, especially if the Minions get caught in the middle of the family drama.
The Daughters Follow In Lucy's Footsteps
On the other hand, it could be even more entertaining for the girls to stay on the path of heroics like their parents do in the Anti-Villain League, becoming agents themselves one day. It certainly matches the attitudes they've shown throughout the other films.
Furthermore, their personalities are all so unique and different from one another that their varying methods of spying could cause some hilarious contrasts and conflicts. Much of the third film deals with Lucy attempting to become closer to the daughters, and this could be a great continuation of that.