'Despicable Me 3' Release Date & Plot Details: Trey Parker Joins the Cast

Universal Pictures' Despicable Me 3 is slated to release on June 30, 2017 and before the principal photography begins, we have a major news for you. It looks like South Park's Trey Parker will join the rest of the cast as the film's new antagonist.

Under the Despicable Me franchise, a total of three feature films and six shorts films has been produced. The NBC Universal CEO, Steve Burke, confirmed in September 2013 that Despicable Me 3 is in works and it was reported by Cone Jovalley that Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, the minds behind the first two parts, will also return to pen down the screenplay for the third one.

Cinemablend reported that during the ongoing CinemaCon at Caesar's Palace on Wednesda, Illumination Entertainment executive Chris Meledandri revealed that Despicable Me 3 will show the fight between Gru and his long-lost identical twin brother, Drew. While talking about Drew, Meledandri stated that he will appear just like Gru, except he will sport blonde long hair.

"I promise you he has crafted an equally infectious performance," Meledandri added.

In Despicable Me 3, Parker will star as Balthazar Bratt, a former child protege who has grown up to become obsessed with the character he used to play in the late '80s. Screencrush revealed that Bratt's character will prove to be "Gru's most formidable nemesis to date."

Despicable Me 3 will also show the return of Gru's adopted daughter -- Margo, Edith and Agnes along with his new wife Lucy (voiced by Kristen Wiig). However, if Minion fans are thinking that, like the previous two parts, this too will have a lot Minions then they will be a little disappointed as they do not have much of a role in the third series. On the contrary, Minions are getting their own new short film, Mower Minions, which is slated to release on July 8, 2016. So it's a win-win situation for all of us.