Universal Lines Up All-Star Cast for First 3-D Animated Feature

UNIVERSAL CITY, November
14: Despicable Me, Universal
Pictures' first 3-D CGI comedy, will feature the voice talents of Steve Carell,
Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Russell Brand and Julie Andrews.

Despicable Me marks Chris Meledandri's (Ice
Age, Robots, Horton Hears a Who!) first production under his new
family-entertainment outfit, Illumination Entertainment, which has a
multi-picture deal to deliver live-action and animated all-audience films for
the Universal slate. Directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin (Gary's Fall) and written by Cinco Paul
and Ken Daurio (Horton Hears a Who!),
Despicable Me is produced by
Meledandri, John Cohen and Janet Healy.

"Everybody has a
wicked side, whether they are 6 or 60, and yet so often storytelling draws a
sharp line between good and evil," said Meledandri. "After years of
taking my sons to the movies and having them leave the theatre with the villain
as their favorite character, we decided to make a movie where the villain is
the protagonist."

"Chris has an unerring
track record of producing top-notch animated family films with attitude, wit
and style, and we are excited to announce his first project for our studio from
Universal's co-venture with him, Illumination Entertainment," commented
the co-chairman of Universal Pictures, David Linde. "Despicable Me will introduce a memorable, hilarious cast of
characters brought to life by Chris' imagination, his animators' talents and
this incredibly gifted voice cast. We are certain that a new classic is being
created."

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski