Minions and Monsters director Pierre Coffin has finally addressed a long-standing fan theory about the Minions and their history, shutting it down definitively. The little yellow beings who hunt down the most wicked individuals in society to serve first appeared in the 2010 animated comedy Despicable Me. Audiences were initially introduced to them as they worked for supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) while he schemed to pinch the moon.
The Persistent Fan Theory
Since then, they've evolved into standalone sensations, with three films dedicated entirely to the Minions and their origins now available. These include 2015's Minions, 2022's Minions: The Rise of Gru, and the freshly-released Minions and Monsters, which is now screening in cinemas. The newest film centres on a completely fresh tribe of Minions residing in Hollywood. They inadvertently wreck a film set and transform into 1920s cinema stars - however, the arrival of talking pictures brings their glamorous existence to an abrupt halt, forcing them to discover an alternative way of living.
According to the official synopsis: "Destitute and aimless, the Minions roam the streets of Hollywood looking for a purpose...and a new evil master to serve. Our heroes James and Henry have a different plan and break away from their tribe. They have fallen in love with making movies and want to make an awesome monster movie of their own! With the help of a spellbook taken from an old boss (an evil sorcerer they used to work for), James and Henry summon some fearsome monsters to play the villains in their movie. When things go haywire, James, Henry, and all their buddies must work together to save the world from a band of rampaging monsters."
Director Pierre Coffin's Response
During publicity for the 2026 film, Minions and Monsters director Pierre Coffin was questioned about a persistent fan theory that the Minions must have served Adolf Hitler at some stage in history, given their tendency to seek out an evil leader. Speaking to Polygon, the filmmaker - who also co-created and voiced the characters - told the publication: "I knew you were going to ask me that question. Shame on you!"
He initially sidestepped the question by suggesting they had taken refuge in a cave between 1812 and 1968, a piece of Minions lore which is explained in the 2015 Minions movie. However, given there are multiple Minions tribes, this doesn't necessarily rule it out. Coffin acknowledged he was "trying to avoid the answer" before maintaining they had no connection to the dictator. He stated: "So the Minions that we know from Minions 1 were stuck in the cave. These ones, I don't know where they were, but they were not part of the Big History."
Impact and Conclusion
This definitive statement from Coffin puts to rest a theory that has circulated among fans for years, suggesting that the Minions' historical timeline does not include serving one of history's most notorious figures. Minions & Monsters is out now in UK cinemas.
