Director shares how Fantastic Four inspired Despicable Me 4 Minions

Despicable Me 4 introduces new identities of Gru's (Steve Carell) beloved yellow Minions—the Mega Minions. These characters have been apparently inspired by Fantastic Four. From the delightful Minions in the first film to the evil Minions in Despicable Me 2 and the mutinous prison Minions in the third installment, franchise directors Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage thought of coming up with something new and different this time. They shared their inspiration that led to the creation of the latest film's Mega Minions.

During an Entertainment Weekly interview, published on July 3, Renaud said that the yellow Minions were very much part of the "story in Mayflower," where Gru now lives. They were thinking about the Minions joining the Anti-Villain League as agents, and started brainstorming what those Minions could be like.

Renaud said,

"I was definitely thinking about simple powers that are very graphic and easily understood."

He added that the creative team considered the "super Minions" idea from the second film, but the final version ended up being the Minion version of Fantastic Four. He continued:

"[We went with] very archetypal powers sort of in the vein and the look of the Fantastic Four."

However, the film director noted that the movie's Mega Minions in Despicable Me 4 are unique. Fantastic Four may inspire them, but the latest Minions will have the same goofiness they are known for.

"Their powers aren't exactly the Fantastic Four, but one thing that I like as a comparison to that group is Fastastic Four powers are slightly goofy... The Invisible Woman, the fire guy, the rock, there's something about it."

Renaud further stated that the inspiration from Fantastic Four fits well with the Despicable Me franchise. He noted:

"It works great as a comic, but the visual and graphic sensibility of those powers really lent themselves to the Minions."

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What else to expect from Despicable Me 4 Minions

The Despicable Me 4 director also shared in the interview, the process of choosing which among the original yellow Minions would get what Fantastic Four superpower. According to him, this depended on the "original designs of the beloved yellow goofballs themselves". Renaud commented:

"With the Minion who stretches—that's Tim, who's our big tall guy, and so it makes sense [for him]. And of course, Mel, with the laser beam powers, he's a one-eyed guy with a goggle, and then the goggle extends."

To sum up the latest movie's Mega Minion characters, Renaud added:

"It was looking at ways that even some of the design as a normal Minion, how that design could lead to what their superpower might be."

The result is the Mega Minions (all voiced by Pierre Coffin)—Mega Dave, who has super strength powers, Mega Tim, who can stretch his body over a mile long, Mega Mel, who has a laser blaster that can slice through anything, Mega Jerry, who has the body of an indestructible boulder, and Mega Gus, who can fly.

Besides the Fantastic Four-inspired Mega Minions, Despicable Me 4 has brought in fresh and exciting new characters who are making chaos. There's the new villain Maxime Le Mal (voiced by Anchorman star Will Ferrell) and his girlfriend Valentina (voiced by Modern Family's Sofia Vergara). Joining them are Gru's new neighbors Poppy Prescott (voiced by A Familly Affair actress Joey King), Patsy Prescott (voiced by Chloe Fineman), and Perry Prescott (voiced by Stephen Colbert).

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Despicable Me 4 is currently showing in movie theaters worldwide.