Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2 is a 2013 American animated comedy film directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin and written by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. Produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures, it is the second installment in the Despicable Me franchise, following the 2010 film. The film stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Steve Coogan, and Ken Jeong. In the film, secret agent Lucy Wilde recruits retired supervillain Gru to investigate the theft of a powerful mutagen by El Macho, a supervillain who pursues world domination.

Development of Despicable Me 2 began in 2010 following the success of the original film, with the directors, producers, and writers returning. Production was underway by February 2012, with the majority of the cast returning to voice the characters, along with new cast members, while animation services were provided by Illumination Mac Guff in France. Al Pacino was cast as the voice of El Macho, recording all of his dialogue, but left in May 2013 over creative differences; Bratt was brought in to replace Pacino, and used him as an inspiration after finding imitating his voice impossible. Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams returned for the sequel's music.