As Minions: The Rise of Gru tramples into theaters on July 1, 2022, all eyes turn to see how the lovably despicable villain rose to prominence in his younger days. While Steve Carell returns to voice the beloved title character, he is surrounded by an excellent cast of new and returning characters that is sure to pay fan service to past franchise entries while pushing the mythology forward in some exciting way.
The diverse international crop of actors in the film includes some of the most recognizable industry titans, including Alan Arkin, Michelle Yeoh, Julie Andrews, Taraji P. Henson, and many more. Before hearing the stellar voice talent in The Rise of Gru, do wise and brush up on the cast members' most high-profile projects of the past.
Steve Carell - The Office (2005-2013)
Stream On Peacock
Although Steve Carell is now recognized as an Oscar-nominated actor who can handle drama as deftly and convincingly as he can comedy, he will almost certainly have the name Michael Scott engraved on his epitaph. Indeed, Carell's iconic role in the universally acclaimed workplace sitcom The Office is one of the chief reasons why the show won multiple Primetime Emmys and currently ranks #27 on IMDb's Top 250 TV Shows of All Time.
Over more than 140 episodes from 2005 to 2013, Carell rose to prominence as he hilariously led the way as the bumbling Dunder Mifflin paper company manager who provided audiences with a near full-decade of heartfelt humorous entertainment, creating a pop-cultural touchstone that continues to be celebrated to this day.
Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Stream On Hulu
In The Rise of Gru, Alan Arkin plays a villainous new character called Wild Knuckles, the former leader of the Vicious 6. While Arkin has been a talented dramatic and comedic actor since giving an all-time terrifying turn in the 1967 thriller Wait Until Dark, he'll almost certainly be recognized for his Oscar-winning performance as Edwin Hoover in the must-see coming-of-age tale Little Miss Sunshine, also starring Steve Carell.
One of the most touching family dramedies on record, Little Miss Sunshine follows the dysfunctional Hoover family as they hit the road to enter the youngest daughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) into a child beauty pageant in California. Despite his crude language and heroin addiction, grandpa Edwin proves to be the heart and soul of the movie who encourages Olive to always be herself regardless of the consequences. Whether old or young, everyone can use an Edwin in their life.
Taraji P. Henson - Empire (2015-2020)
Stream On Hulu
Taraji P. Henson adds to her diverse resume by portraying Belle Bottom, the chief villain in The Rise of Gru. Many will recall the soulful breakout turn Henson gave as Shug in Hustle & Flow, while others are sure to remember her inspirational performance as the real-life unsung hero Katherine G. Johnson in Hidden Figures. However, neither eclipse the sheer depth and breadth of Henson's role as Cookie Lyon in the smash Fox hit drama Empire.
Playing the role for six seasons and over 100 episodes, the Shakespearean family drama set inside the music industry finds a music mogul at a moral standstill when selecting which child should succeed him as the head of the company. Henson steals the show as a wily ex-con with a shrewd business acumen doing whatever it takes to stay on top. As such, playing the top villain in Minions makes a ton of sense.
Michelle Yeoh - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Stream On HBO Max
Playing Master Chow in The Rise of Gru, Malaysian action-movie superstar Michelle Yeoh is enjoying a major career resurgence after appearing in Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi, which led to her starring turn in the dazzling Everything Everywhere All At Once at the young age of 60. However, few roles can top the impact Yeoh made internationally as Yu Shu Lien in the fantastic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
The breathtaking 4-time Oscar-winner from director Ang Lee is an expansive, dreamy, fable-like tale of romantic adventure that boasts stunning visuals that are unlike anything that came before it. Reprising the role in the 2016 sequel Sword of Destiny almost certainly ensures Yu Shu Lien as being Yeoh's most iconic movie role to date.
Russell Brand - Get Him To The Greek (2010)
Stream On Hulu
Returning to the sordid world of Gru is Dr. Nefario, reprised by Russell Brand for the third time in franchise history. While Brand has been dedicating his time and effort to his YouTube podcast in recent years, most will recall his amusing role as Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and its loose spinoff, Get Him to the Greek.
Brand slips effortlessly into the role of Snow, a troublesome and eminently-quotable British rockstar who must be corralled by a wide-eyed intern (Jonah Hill) and brought to his music venue on time to perform a concert. Brand nails the sense of spoiled entitlement that the worst impulses of fame can bring out in people, proving in the sequel that he can carry a whole movie as the lead rather than a supporting character.
Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins (1964)
Stream On Disney+
The great Julie Andrews reprises the role of Gru's neglectful mother Marlena for the third time in franchise history, indicating where Gru developed his bad behavior. And while she increased her modern visibility by joining the Netflix hit series Bridgerton, Julie Andrews' most recognizable movies will always be a toss-up between Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music.
Since Andrews won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Lead Role for the former, it's easy to single out her all-time memorable turn as Mary Poppins as her best and brightest performance to date, the magically delightful nanny who radiates a positive aura among her two neglected young charges. All these years later, the spoonful of sugar is still as sweet as can be.
Dolph Lundgren - Rocky IV (1985)
Stream On AMC+
One of the funniest new characters in The Rise of Gru is Svengeance, voiced by Swedish action star Dolph Lundgren. While it's conceivable newer crowds will spot Dolph from his work in The Expendables movies or as King Nereus in Aquaman, nothing will ever top his legendary role as Ivan Drago in the immortal Rocky IV.
With such quotable lines as "I must break you" and "if he dies, he dies," Drago becomes Rocky's most personal boxing rival after he kills his best friend Apollo Creed inside the ring, setting up an epic revenge campaign for the Italian Stallion to honor his fallen friend. Drago will live in infamy as an all-time memorable '80s movie villain and one that launched Lundgren's movie career.
Lucy Lawless - Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)
Purchase On Apple TV
New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless took time out of her busy TV schedule to voice the role of Nun-Chuck in The Rise of Gru, another character new to the franchise. Horror fans may recall Lawless in Salem or Ash vs. Evil Dead, but almost everyone will recognize Lawless' towering six-year reign as Xena: The Warrior Princess.
The Hercules spinoff series places Lawless center stage as the titular warrior princess who sets out to confront her dark past and redeem her future by going on an epic quest along with the gallant poet Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) while fighting throngs of the world's most formidable beings. Strong, sexy, capable, Xena is an absolute boss.
Jean-Claude Van Damme - Bloodsport (1988)
Stream On Tubi & Hoopla
Much like Dolph Lundgren, Belgian action star Jean-Claude Van Damme is cast in a comedic villainous role in The Rise of Gru, in which he riffs on his image by playing a punny character called Jean-Clawed. Younger audiences may also remember seeing Van Damme in The Expendables movies, while those who grew up in the '80s and '90s will shed a tear over the nostalgic spin kicks Van Damme shows off in Bloodsport.
Based on a supposed true story, Van Damme plays Frank Dux, a skilled martial artist who enters an underground tournament in Hong Kong called the Kumite, where he climbs the ranks before taking on the mighty Chong Li (Bolo Yeung) in one of the most epic fight scenes on record. Everyone needs to see this movie once in their life if they haven't already, as it established Van Damme's physical onscreen and in-ring dominance.
Danny Trejo - Machete (2010)
Rent On Vudu
Despite logging over 400 screen credits, the ubiquitous Danny Trejo joins the Minions franchise for the first time by playing a Vicious 6 member named Stronghold. While any random moviegoer could probably throw a dart and hit a movie Trejo has been in, his most substantial starring work includes Robert Rodriguez's grindhouse Machete movies.
Finally awarded a starring turn after decades of recognizable supporting roles, Machete stars Trejo as the titular ex-Federale on a violent revenge campaign against the crooked backstabber who hired him to assassinate a politician. Cartoonishly over-the-top in the best ways possible, Trejo proves he can carry a movie on his back with the best of them.