Universal Studios has significantly altered its animation release schedule. Minions 3's release date has been moved up to July 1, 2026, replacing Shrek 5, which is now slated for December 23, 2026. This scheduling change prioritizes the highly successful Minions franchise, given its consistent box office dominance. An untitled Illumination project will fill the vacated 2026 Independence Day release slot. Currently, no Illumination films are planned for 2025.