Minions & Monsters, which was directed by the franchise’s creator, Pierre Coffin, forms part of a strong release calendar for Universal this summer. That slate includes the international rights to distribute Lionsgate Studios Corp.’s Michael biopic, about the early career of Michael Jackson, which has grossed $607.3 million outside the US and Canada; YouTube star Curry Barker’s Obsession, from Universal’s Focus Features specialty arm, which as grossed $373 million on a budget of less than $1 million; and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which is set to be released on July 17.