Mini Minions movie set for July premiere

A brand new short film "Mower Minions" is set to be screened as an opening feature alongside "The Secret Life of Pets" when it arrives in theaters this summer.

Thanks to the runaway success of last year's "Minions" at the global box office (the film is the second most successful animated feature in history), fans have been crying out for more.

Illumination Entertainment and Universal are clearly more than happy to oblige and promise that the new original film will pick up where the last left off and that, like the film it precedes, will be available in 2D or 3D.

"It's been a year since Minions appeared on movie screens, and will be another year until they show up in Despicable Me 3 next summer. Fans are always asking us for more content with the Minions, so the timing felt right for them to star in an all-new short film right before audiences experience Illumination's newest original film, 'The Secret Life of Pets'," said Illumination Entertainment founder and CEO, Chris Meledandri.

"Mower Minions" will debut in the US on July 8.