George Lucas makes a stealthy cameo in Minions & Monsters

Well, here’s something I wouldn’t have called: George Lucas, the man who conjured up Star Wars and then more or less vanished into a comfortable semi-retirement after cashing the Disney cheque, is about to pop back into cinemas – but not in the director’s chair. Instead, Lucas is lending his voice to the next Minions film, which, yes, is a real thing that’s actually happening.

George Lucas Joins the Minions Universe (No, Honestly)

So, Lucas is set for a cameo voice role in 'Minions & Monsters', the third film spinning off from the juggernaut that is the Despicable Me franchise. It sounds odd, but apparently Lucas has been a Minions fan for years (make of that what you will). According to Illumination’s head honcho Chris Meledandri, getting Lucas on board was much easier than expected – once the idea came up for a suitable character, Meledandri floated it, and Lucas was apparently all over it straight away.

'I just said, what if we could get George? And they’re like, are you kidding me? I had no idea, but I got such a fast yes. It was incredible. So, we’re thrilled to have him in the film. I saw him recently, and he’s already talking to me about the role he wants to do next in the next Minions movie. So, it’s pretty incredible.'

That’s Meledandri, who clearly still can’t believe his luck – Lucas is apparently so eager he’s having thoughts about a follow-up before his appearance in this one’s even out.

How Did Lucas End Up Here?

Here’s the sequence, in plain English:

• Minions & Monsters is the upcoming third Minions spinoff film.
• Chris Meledandri, boss of Illumination, was looking for the right cameo for a new character in the film’s story.
• He’d previously clocked that George Lucas was a genuine fan of all things Minion.
• Chris pitched the idea of bringing Lucas in. The team thought it was a long shot, but Lucas immediately said yes.
• According to Meledandri, Lucas is not just happy to do one; he’s already pitching himself for another.

A Packed Cast

Official cast details for Minions & Monsters are still under wraps, but with Lucas wandering into the studio for a voice part, it’s probably safe to assume they’ve gone for “throw everything at it and see what sticks.” Wouldn’t surprise me if there are other curveball cameos lined up.

More as it develops.