In anticipation of their Despicable Me spin-off Minions, Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment (via USA Today) are giving us our first look at the film’s villain Scarlet Overkill, played by Academy Award-winner Sandra Bullock.
“Scarlet Overkill has fantastic hair, wears great clothes and has a lethal uppercut,” says producer Chris Meledandri, head of the animation studio Illumination Entertainment. “When we turn her loose on the world, she is going to come out standing on top.”
Arriving on the big screen July 10, 2015, Minions begins at the dawn of time. Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters–from T. rex to Napoleon–the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression. But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he–alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob–ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow.
The trio embarks upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind… from annihilation.
“Scarlet is an unusual supervillain. She is a dangerously charming woman, which could not have been easy in the late 1960s,” says Pierre Coffin, who directed the film with Kyle Balda.
“Scarlet has all the gadgetry and accouterments of villainy,” says Meledandri. “This is a side to Sandra Bullock we haven’t seen before. She is really enjoying playing with this villainy. But underneath there’s a character you cannot help but fall in love with.”
Featuring a soundtrack of hit music from the ’60s, Minions is produced by Illuminatio’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and is directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. Brian Lynch has written the screenplay for the 3D-CG comedy adventure, and Chris Renaud serves as executive producer of the film.
