If you’ve ever wondered who brings the Minions to life—or which A-list comedians are hiding behind the animation—you’re in the right place. Despicable Me 4 landed in theaters on July 3, 2024, adding a fresh batch of villains and new neighbors to the beloved franchise. This guide breaks down every voice actor, their character, and what we know about the film’s cast, straight from the official credits.

4 related posts

Main voice cast count: 8 ·
Primary villain: Maxime Le Mal (voiced by Will Ferrell) ·
Release year: 2024 ·
Franchise films before this: 3

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact role of Stephen Colbert’s character limited in primary sources (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • The character Lenny and his voice actor not detailed in main credits (Rotten Tomatoes)
3Timeline signal
  • Premiere: July 3, 2024 (IMDb)
4What’s next

Six key facts drawn from the film’s official database and trade listings tell the story of the cast at a glance.

Label Value
Title Despicable Me 4
Release Year 2024
Main Voice – Gru Steve Carell
Main Voice – Lucy Kristen Wiig
Villain – Maxime Le Mal Will Ferrell
Franchise Position 4th main installment

Who is in the cast of Despicable Me 4?

Main voice actors

  • Steve Carell returns as Gru, the reformed supervillain-turned-dad (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • Kristen Wiig voices Lucy, Gru’s wife and fellow agent (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • Pierre Coffin returns as the voice of the Minions (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • Miranda Cosgrove reprises her role as Margo (IMDb).
  • Dana Gaier returns as Edith (IMDb).
  • Madison Skyy Polan voices Agnes, taking over from previous actors (IMDb).

Supporting roles

  • Stephen Colbert voices Perry Prescott, Poppy’s father (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • Chloe Fineman voices Patsy Prescott, Poppy’s mother (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • Steve Coogan returns as Silas (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • Chris Renaud appears as Principal Übelschlecht (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • John DiMaggio and Laraine Newman have minor roles as Bus Driver and Melora, respectively (IMDb).

The pattern: the core family remains intact, while new side characters are voiced by a mix of late-night hosts and comedic talent. The implication: the franchise is investing in established names to keep the humor fresh without losing its original identity.

Who is the villain in Despicable Me 4?

Maxime Le Mal

  • Will Ferrell voices the film’s main antagonist, Maxime Le Mal (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • Maxime is described as a flamboyant, French-accented villain who targets Gru and his family.

Valentina

  • Sofía Vergara voices Valentina, Maxime’s girlfriend and accomplice (Rotten Tomatoes).
  • Her character adds a new dynamic to the villain duo, contrasting with the single-antagonist structure of earlier films.
The catch

Maxime Le Mal is a cockroach-themed villain—a deliberate departure from the minion-based chaos of previous entries. That shift means the comedy relies more on Ferrell’s improvisational style than on physical gags, which could polarize fans.

Why this matters: the villain cast is the most high-profile addition to the franchise, with Ferrell and Vergara bringing mainstream star power that the earlier films mostly reserved for the hero side.

What is the release date of Despicable Me 4?

Theatrical release

  • Despicable Me 4 premiered in the United States on July 3, 2024 (IMDb).
  • The film was released in theaters worldwide throughout July 2024.
Why this matters

The July 3 release date places the film in the competitive summer holiday window, a strategic move by Universal Pictures to capture family audiences during the long weekend. It’s the same tactic used for the franchise’s previous installments.

The trade-off: a summer release means higher box-office potential but also stronger competition from other animated films. For families, it’s the only major animated sequel of the season.

Where can I find the Despicable Me 4 trailer?

Trailer availability

“The film enters a new era of Minions mayhem, introducing fresh new characters voiced by Joey King, Stephen Colbert, and Chloe Fineman.”

— Universal Pictures official trailer description

The pattern: the trailer emphasizes the new characters while reassuring fans that the Minions’ slapstick humor remains central. For viewers deciding whether to watch, the trailer serves as a promise of both nostalgia and novelty.

Who does each voice actor play in Despicable Me 4?

Full character-actor mapping

  • Steve Carell → Gru
  • Kristen Wiig → Lucy
  • Pierre Coffin → Minions (Kevin, Bob, Stuart)
  • Will Ferrell → Maxime Le Mal
  • Sofía Vergara → Valentina
  • Joey King → Poppy Prescott (Universal Pictures trailer)
  • Stephen Colbert → Perry Prescott
  • Chloe Fineman → Patsy Prescott
  • Miranda Cosgrove → Margo
  • Dana Gaier → Edith
  • Madison Skyy Polan → Agnes
  • Steve Coogan → Silas
  • Chris Renaud → Principal Übelschlecht
  • John DiMaggio → Bus Driver
  • Laraine Newman → Melora

Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb together list 15 credited voice roles. The character-actor pairings are verified against Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb.

The implication: the cast is the largest in the franchise, with 15 named roles compared to 12 in Despicable Me 3. This expansion primarily serves the new Prescott family and the villain duo, giving the filmmakers more comedic tools to work with.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Steve Carell voices Gru.
  • Will Ferrell voices Maxime Le Mal.
  • Sofía Vergara voices Valentina.
  • Film was released in 2024.

What’s unclear

  • Exact role of Stephen Colbert’s character is not fully detailed in primary sources.
  • Whether the film is the last in the series has not been confirmed.
  • The character Sensei and who voices him remain unlisted in major credits.
  • Lenny, a character mentioned in marketing, has no confirmed voice actor.

Despicable Me 4 reunites the franchise’s core family while introducing a roster of new voices that includes Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara, and Joey King, as confirmed by the film’s official trailer and cast listing on Rotten Tomatoes.

— Rotten Tomatoes synopsis

For families deciding whether to take the kids, the cast is stacked with recognizable talent. The trade-off is clear: the new characters add depth, but the core Minions formula remains unchanged. For fans of the series, that’s exactly what they’re paying for.

Related reading: Despicable Me 4 voice cast and new characters (2024)

Additional sources

despicableme.fandom.com, screenrant.com, voices.com, en.wikipedia.org, deadline.com, themoviedb.org, youtube.com

Fans eager to learn more about the returning and new voice actors can find a complete breakdown in the Despicable Me 4 cast details.

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Frequently asked questions

Who voices the Minions in Despicable Me 4?

Pierre Coffin returns to voice the Minions, as he has in every previous film (Rotten Tomatoes).

Is there a post-credit scene in Despicable Me 4?

As of existing reports, no post-credit scene has been confirmed by the studio. Check official sources for updates.

How many main characters are in Despicable Me 4?

The film features 15 credited voice roles, including the Gru family, the new villains, and supporting characters (IMDb).

Did the original cast return for Despicable Me 4?

Yes, Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, and Dana Gaier all return. Madison Skyy Polan takes over the role of Agnes (IMDb).

What is the age rating of Despicable Me 4?

The film is rated PG for action and rude humor, consistent with previous entries.

Is Despicable Me 4 the last film in the series?

No official statement has been made. The franchise’s continued box-office success suggests future installments are likely.