Chris Renaud, the director ofDespicable Me 4, has expressed his reluctance towards the idea of adapting the beloved animated franchise into a live-action format. Having directed the first two installments in theDespicable Mefranchise and returned for the fourth, Renaud has been a crucial figure inshaping the series. He also served as a producer for 2015’sMinionsand 2022’sMinions: The Rise of Gru.
In a recent interview withFilm Hounds magazine, Renaud was asked about the possibility of a live-action adaptation of the Minions. His response was immediate and unequivocal.
“God, I hope not. That’s my answer.”
Renaud elaborated on his stance, explaining that certain stories and scenes are best told through a singular medium, and it is often better to maintain that medium to preserve the essence of the narrative.
“I mean if there were conversations [about live-action remakes], I haven’t been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated, and it allows us to get away with what we get away with. Like locking a minion in the vending machine or blowing up Gru when he attacks Vector [voiced by Jason Segel]. These are really cartoon ideas, like what would have been in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
I think it just becomes something completely different if you do a live-action version. For me personally, not very appealing. But again, who knows what can happen but that’s my personal feeling about it.”
Despicable Me 4
This sentiment is echoed by Pixar’s chief creative officer, Pete Docter, as well. In previous interviews, Docter has stated that movies likeRatatouilleandUpwould be challenging to translate to live-action due to theirunique storytelling, creative concepts, and visual style.
Disney’s Success With Live-Action Adaptations
It goes without saying that the magic of animation lies in its ability to create worlds and characters that are not bound by the limitations of reality. Regardless of this fact and despite the challenges associated with live-action adaptations,Disney has found considerable successin this arena. Movies such asThe Lion King,Aladdin, andBeauty & the Beasthave been reimagined in live-action formats. Upcoming movies looking to continue this trend includeSnow WhiteandMoana.
Every Disney Live Action Remake, Ranked
From the The Sorcerer’s Apprentice to Mulan, here’s our rankings of every Disney live action remake.
Under Jon Favreau’s direction, 2019’sThe Lion King, grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide. In the same year, Guy Ritchie’sAladdinearned over $1 billion globally and was praised greatly for its visuals and performances.Beauty and the Beast, directed by Bill Condon, was also considered a faithful adaptation, and it crossed the $1 billion mark quite effortlessly.
While these success stories are testament to live-action’s potential to translate a beloved take into something that resonates with the audiences, not all animated movies are suited for the format. For now, fans of theMinionsfranchise can look forward to more animated franchises arriving in the future. Illumination and Universal have already announced plans forMinions 3, which will hit theaters on June 15, 2025, and will be directed by Pierre Coffin.
