Shubhabrata Dutta
Most of the actors, ranging from Robin Williams to Steve Carell, who are known for their comedic roles in movies and TV shows, have delivered remarkable dramatic performances at some point in their careers. Since we are talking about Carell here, take ‘Beautiful Boy,’ ‘Last Flag Flying,’ ‘Battle of the Sexes,’ ‘Foxcatcher,’ and ‘The Big Short,’ for example. Each of these movies is proof of Carell’s acting talents, and it takes one to watch them to realize his prowess.
Although most of us know Carell from the sitcom ‘The Office,’ adapted from the British sitcom of the same name created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant for NBC by Greg Daniels (veteran co-writer of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘The Simpsons’), he also lends his voice to the grumpy sweet villain Gru in the animated movie franchise ‘Despicable Me.’ Now, whether you are a fan of these or a fan of him in general, it is only natural for you to wonder when you will see him or hear his voice next. Well, here’s a list of his upcoming projects!
1. Despicable Me 4 (2024)
Not many will need to be made familiar with the animated comedy franchise ‘Despicable Me’ and the supervillain Gru. Carell’s voice for the character has made the same one of the most popular animated characters ever created. Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment know better than to put an end to this franchise, which is why they are bringing him back in the fourth installment.
‘Despicable 4’ is directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage (co-director) and is based on a script by Mike White. While the plot of the film is still under wraps, Carell, while speaking to Digital Spy, stated, “It’s a continuation of the story. Gru and Lucy [voiced by Kristen Wiig] are married; they’re a family at this point. It’s the next step in their world with the Anti-Villain League and how their kids are included in the whole process. It’s the most logical next step in the continuation of their story as a family together.”
Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, and Steve Coogan are back on board to voice their respective characters Gru, Lucy Wilde, Margo, and Silas Ramsbottom. Pierre Coffin lends his voice to the minions. Dana Gaier is back as Edith while Madison Skyy Polan will be taking the baton from Nev Scharrel as Agnes. Will Ferrell is taking over as the villain this time, voicing Maxime Le Mal. The movie will hit theaters on July 3, 2024. You can watch the trailer here.
2. The Four Seasons (TBA)
An adaptation of Alan Alda’s 1981 film, Netflix’s upcoming romantic comedy series ‘The Four Seasons’ will follow three married couples who go on vacations together every season. However, things get awkward when one of the men divorces his wife and brings a younger woman along for a trip. Carell, Tina Fey, and Colman Domingo have been finalized as cast members. Fey has co-adapted the series with Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield. It will have eight episodes, and production is slated to begin later in 2024. More details about this intriguing project are awaited.
3. Untitled Steve Carell/HBO series (TBA)
Created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, this comedy series, ordered for ten episodes, is set on a college campus and explores an author’s bond with his daughter. While Carell is presumably the author, we have yet to find out who will play the daughter and the rest of the cast. Lawrence, Tarses, and Carell serve as executive producers, too. The series is currently in its pre-production stage, developing at a steady pace.
4. Misadventure (TBA)
‘Crazy Stupid Love’ directing duo Glenn Ficarra and John Requa have just been roped in to direct this rom-com starring Carell, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and Julianne Moore. All four were in ‘Crazy Stupid Love’ too. The story of ‘Misadventure’ is still under wraps, and the script is being worked upon by Mark Hammer. More details about the production and release are awaited. Will it be another banger like ‘Crazy Stupid Love’? Let’s hope so.
5. The Rabbit Factor (TBA)
Carell in a dark comedy movie is certainly something to look forward to. ‘The Rabbit Factor’ is based on Finnish author Antti Tuomainen’s darkly comic novel, which was published in 2020. It tells the story of Henri Koskinen, an insurance mathematician who loses his job only to inherit an adventure park from his brother. While it is supposed to bring in a lot of money, the catch, as expected, is that his brother owed a lot of money to criminals who now want the same back. Along with this, he is attracted to Laura, an artist whom he meets in the park. The situations and feelings that he is subjected to as a result are stuff that unfortunately cannot be quantified, leading to humorous consequences that pose as dark as well.
Well, we have to wait to find out who is adapting and directing this Amazon Studios production. As far as the cast is concerned, Carell is roped in to play Koskinen, while the rest is currently unannounced. Along with the further updates concerning its impending production, what remains to be seen is how Carell uses his sense of humor to portray the character.
