Will Ferrell has embraced another villainous character, voicing the French supervillain Maxime Le Mal in Illumination’s “Despicable Me 4.” Directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage, the film follows Maxime’s escape from prison, prompting Gru (Steve Carell) and his family to go on the run.
Ferrell expressed his excitement for the role at the film’s New York premiere, mentioning his long-standing desire to work with director Chris Renaud. “I was pitched the character of being the villain, this French bad guy, Maxime, and that’s all I needed to hear was ‘French’ and ‘bad guy.’ It’s always fun to be mean, in a silly way,” Ferrell remarked.
Steve Carell, reprising his role as Gru, shared insights into voicing the character again with input from his children. “When I originated the voice, it was my kids who said, ‘That’s the one you should use,’” Carell noted, highlighting his family’s influence on his performance.
The “Despicable Me” franchise, which has grossed over $4 billion globally, continues its success with each installment. “Despicable Me 3” surpassed $1 billion worldwide, solidifying its place as one of the highest-grossing animated film franchises. “Minions: The Rise of Gru” also performed exceptionally well, marking the highest domestic opening for an animated film since 2019’s “Frozen 2.”
Reflecting on the potential of “Despicable Me 4,” Carell remained cautiously optimistic. “You never know… I’m always pleasantly surprised when things turn out well,” he commented.
The film introduces Joey King as Poppy Prescott, an aspiring villain, and continues to feature Miranda Cosgrove voicing Margo. Cosgrove, who has been part of the franchise since a young age, adjusts her voice to maintain the character’s youthful essence.
“Despicable Me 4” is now playing in theaters, promising more of the animated antics and beloved characters that have captured audiences worldwide.
