Despicable Me 4 is bringing back lots of familiar faces, but fans are scratching their heads over the absence of Gru’s brother, Dru, in the movie’s marketing. Steve Carell, who voices both Gru and Dru, introduced Dru in Despicable Me 3 as Gru’s long-lost twin. However, after that, the series focused more on the Minions spin-offs, leaving Dru’s storyline hanging.
In Despicable Me 4, Gru and his family face off against a new villain, Maxime Le Mal, played by Will Ferrell. The spotlight is on Gru and a few new characters, including the Mega Minions, which has fans wondering if Dru’s return is being kept secret. So, where does Dru fit into Despicable Me 4, and what does this mean for his future in the franchise? Let’s dive in and find out!
Is Dru in Despicable Me 4?
In Despicable Me 3, Dru was a big deal, playing a crucial role as Gru’s long-lost brother. His desire to become a true villain like their father added emotional depth and complicated Gru’s attempts to leave his villainous past behind. Their budding relationship even set up a playful rivalry between the siblings.
However, in Despicable Me 4, Dru is mostly MIA, only popping up in a brief cameo at the film’s end. This movie shifts focus to exploring new villains and characters. We meet the likes of Maxime, played by Will Ferrell, Gru’s old principal Übelschlecht, and Poppy, a young wannabe villain.
Dru isn’t the only familiar face missing from most of Despicable Me 4. Dr. Nefario and Marlena Gru also make only brief cameos at the end. The film explains this by having Maxime, the villain, vow revenge on Gru and his family after being captured early on. This forces Gru and his immediate family into hiding, cutting off contact with others like his mom and brother.
While this makes sense in the story, it’s probably for the best that Dru is mostly absent. Despicable Me 4 is already packed with too many ideas that don’t fully develop or resolve. Adding Dru could have made the plot even more chaotic. Instead, his absence emphasizes the isolation and danger the family faces, cleverly removing him from the cluttered narrative.
Dru is largely absent from the narrative, only appearing during a celebratory scene with Gru and his loved ones after they defeat Maxime.
Will we see Dru return in a future Despicable Me or Minions movie?
Dru offers a lot of potential for the Despicable Me series as a wildcard character. His connection with Gru could be explored further, especially if Dru really succeeds as a villain. This could push Gru to completely abandon his villainous past, which he briefly revisits in Despicable Me 4 with Poppy. Dru could also be a great addition to a Minions spin-off, either teaming up with or going up against the little yellow guys.
There’s no official word yet on a Despicable Me 5 or Minions 3, but given that Despicable Me is the highest-grossing animated franchise ever, it’s likely we’ll see more soon. Dru remains a fun, flexible character that can be reintroduced in future films, especially after his limited role in Despicable Me 4. His return could even help streamline the plot for a potential sequel.
