Mad Men star Jon Hamm has signed on for a voice role in DreamWorks Animation's spin-off Minions.

The story is set in the 1960s, long before the loveable yellow Minions joined forces with Despicable Me's Gru, and establishes that these pint-sized henchmen have been around since the beginning of time, providing their services to the world' elite villains. The plot follows the Minions heading to a villain conference to find their latest master to serve, when they encounter Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock). Jon Hamm is playing Scarlett's inventor husband Herb Overkill.

Pierre Coffin (Despicable Me) and Kyle Balda (Dr. Seuss' the Lorax) are directing from a screenplay by Brian Lynch, with Illumination Entertainment's Christopher Meledandri and Janet Healy producing.

Fans will get another dose of the Minions in this summer's comedy sequel Despicable Me 2. Jon Hamm recently voiced the villainous Captain Murphy in the Season 4 finale of FX's hit animated series Archer.