Despicable Me: What Happened To Vector (Did He Survive On The Moon?) (2024)

Little is known about what happened to Vector from Despicable Me, the thief competing against Gru for the moon in the first movie. While many villains such as El Macho in Despicable Me 2, Scarlet Overkill in Minions, and Belle Bottom in Minions: Rise of Gru have entered the series since, Vector (Jason Segal) remains arguably the most famous of the bunch, and the most interesting villain to go up against Gru (Steve Carell) and his Minions. Donning an orange tracksuit, a squid launcher, and a piranha gun, he is able to thwart Gru at every turn for much of the movie. Introduced as the new "greatest villain ever" after he manages to steal the Pyramid of Giza without anyone finding out, Vector is seen as the next big deal in the bad guy community in the first Despicable Me movie.

After discovering Gru's plans to steal the moon using a shrink ray, Vector is able to steal it from him. In an effort to get back at him, Gru adopts three girls and uses them to distract Vector with cookies, as he and the Minions successfully take the shrink ray back. Later, it is revealed that he is the son of the Bank of Evil director, Mr. Perkins, who continually denies Gru loans to carry out the heist. Towards the finale, Gru is successful in shrinking the moon down and stealing it. However, upon landing on Earth, he learns that Vector has kidnapped his adopted daughters Margo, Agnes, and Edith as leverage for the moon. As Vector tries to escape with both the moon and the girls, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) and the Minions realize that the effects of the shrink ray are temporary, and the moon grows back and launches back into orbit. Gru is able to save the girls, while the Vector Despicable Me story ends with him stranded on the moon. But what's happened to the super-villain since?

Related: Everything We Know About Minions 3

Easter Eggs In The Sequels Reveal What Happened To Vector After Despicable Me

The Vector Despicable Me arc gets pseudo-conclusion later in the franchise. With his introduction to the Anti-Villain League (AVL) in Despicable Me 2, Gru is given access to the files they have on other villains they've tracked over the years. According to those files, made available on the Despicable Me 3 Blu-ray extras, it seems that Vector is still stranded on the moon as per their last report. The file also states that, with a telescope, he is still visible. It would seem that Vector is somehow surviving on the moon, although it's not made clear how he is still alive.

As the most recent movie in the Despicable Me and Minions franchise is the Despicable Me prequel, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Gru's present-day storyline won't be covered again until July 2024, with the release of Despicable Me 4. Although the series is yet to bring back any villains beyond Vector's Rise of Gru Easter egg, it isn't far-fetched to consider his return in a future installment that returns to the present day. Vector was a worthy nemesis for Gru and was able to outsmart him more than once. His technological zeal could come into effect again as the backbone of more nefarious schemes. Only time will tell if he'll find a way back to Earth.

Vector's Rise Of Gru Cameo Creates A Plot Hole Problem

Even though it's a prequel, Vector did make an appearance of sorts in Minions: The Rise of Gru. When Gru meets Mr. Perkins (once again voiced by Will Arnett), the nefarious head of the Bank of Evil, the latter shows the former a picture of his infant son. This is, of course, a child Vector. While on the surface this is a great nod to the impending events of Despicable Me in Gru's future, it also creates a plot hole in the Despicable Minionverse timeline. It was strongly implied in the first movie that Vector was a fair bit younger than Gru, to the extent there are decades between them. Vector is introduced by Mr. Perkins as an up-and-comer, one of the new crop of villains fresh on the scene. Gru is 12 in Rise of Gru, so in most fans' minds, Vector should be a newborn infant at the absolute earliest. Most, however, presumed Vector wasn't born until Gru was well into adulthood. Much like Vector's possible death on the moon in Despicable Me, his birth as established in The Rise of Gru raises serious questions about the nature of time and mortality in Universal Studios' Gruniverse.

Next: Everything We Know About Despicable Me 4