 A prequel feature film titled Minions , featuring the Minions as the main characters , was released on July 10 , 2015 . Written by Brian Lynch , it was directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle <unk> , and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healey . The film , set in the 1960s , focuses on the Minions before they met Gru , where they compete for the right to become henchmen of an ambitious villain , Scarlet Overkill , voiced by Sandra Bullock . 
