The release dates for Illumination's and Universal's upcoming animated flicks Migration and Despicable Me 4 have been determined. On June 30, 2023, the former original will be released in theaters nationwide, competing with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' unannounced fifth installment in the Indiana Jones franchise. On the wide-open weekend of July 23, 2024, the latest entry in the top-grossing Despicable Me franchise will be released. Both films are filling positions previously occupied by the untitled Illumination Animated Films.

Migration is a contemporary comedy about a family of ducks who persuade their overbearing father to let them go on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation as they attempt to migrate from New England to New York City and then down to the Bahamas. Mike White (School of Rock, The White Lotus) wrote the original screenplay, which is directed by Oscar contender Benjamin Renner (Ernest et Célestine), with Illumination creator Chris Meledandri producing.

Gru (Steve Carell), a rehabilitated supervillain who eventually becomes a father, husband, and secret agent, and his yellow-hued Minions star in the Despicable Me franchise, which debuted in 2010. Carell will reprise his role in Despicable Me 4 alongside Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, and Steve Coogan, marking Illumination's 15th feature picture collaboration with Universal. Chris Renaud (Despicable Me 1 and 2, The Lorax, The Secret Lives of Pets 1 and 2) is directing, with Patrick Delage (Sing, Sing 2, The Secret Lives of Pets 2) co-directing and Meledandri producing from a script by White.

In March, Illumination announced that Minions: The Rise of Gru, the Covid-delayed Despicable Me spin-off sequel, will be released on July 1, 2022. The Despicable Me and Minions films have grossed more than $3.7 billion globally to date.