The 82-year-old filmmaker icon, responsible for creating the Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchises<\/a>, will voice a character in the new Minions & Monsters movie, according to Chris Meledandri, the founder of the animation studio Illumination. <\/p>\n \u201cI had this privilege of meeting George about two years ago, and what led to my meeting him is how much he loves Illumination movies, and specifically Despicable Me, and even more specifically, the Minions,<\/a>\u201d Meledandri told Collider<\/a>. <\/p>\n It was during their initial meeting that Meledandri had the epiphany to write a special part for Lucas in the next Minions film.<\/p>\n \u201cAn idea for a character came up out of the story, and so I said to Pierre [Coffin], who co-wrote the movie with Brian Lynch, and Bill Ryan, who produces with me on the film, and I just said, \u2018Well, what if we could get George?\u2019 And they\u2019re like, \u2018Are you kidding me?\u2019 I had no idea, but I got such a fast yes,\u201d he recalled. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was incredible,\u201d Meledandri said, adding that they are \u201cthrilled\u201d to have him in the forthcoming movie. <\/p>\n \u201cI saw him recently,\u201d he noted, \u201cand he\u2019s already talking to me about the role he wants to do next in the next Minions movie.\u201d<\/p>\n Lucas\u2019s role in the seventh entry of the family adventure film series \u2014 which follows the yellow, oblong-shaped creatures as they attempt to save the world from monsters they accidentally unleashed \u2014 remains under wraps. <\/p>\n The Independent has contacted Lucas\u2019s representative for comment. <\/p>\n French anime director Coffin, who serves as the primary voice behind the minions in the popular Despicable Me franchise, will return for Minions & Monsters. He will be joined by new cast members Lucas, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch and Christoph Waltz.<\/p>\n The new role will be Lucas\u2019s first acting gig since lending his voice to the TV short Robot Chicken: Star Wars in 2007. His limited list of acting credits consists mostly of single-episode cameos in The O.C. and Just Shoot Me!, as well as uncredited roles in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), Men in Black (1997), Hook (1991) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). <\/p>\n He is better known as the founder of Lucasfilm and creator of the fictional Star Wars and Indiana Jones universes. He served as the production company\u2019s chairman before Disney acquired it for $4.05 billion in 2012. Months before the deal, Lucas appeared to announce his retirement. <\/p>\n![\"George](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/George-Lucas.jpeg\")
George Lucas effectively stepped away from Hollywood in 2012 after he sold Lucasfilm to Disney (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\u2018Minions](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ILLUMINATION-MINIONS_43642.jpg\")
\u2018Minions & Monsters\u2019 will release July 1 (Universal Pictures)<\/p>\n