After a long hiatus, fans of the beloved animated film series "Shrek" will be delighted to hear that a fifth installment is in the works. Scheduled for release in 2026, "Shrek 5" will see the return of original cast members Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz reprising their iconic roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona.
The announcement of "Shrek 5" has generated much excitement and anticipation among fans who have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this whimsical fairy tale universe. The chemistry between Myers, Murphy, and Diaz was a key component of the success of the previous films, and their return is sure to bring back fond memories for audiences.
On Tuesday, DreamWorks Animation announced on social media that "Shrek 5" is officially in the works, with its stars − Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Fiona and Eddie Murphy as Donkey − also returning. The studio did not announce plans for Antonio Banderas' Puss in Boots.
"Shrek 5" is slated for a July 1, 2026, release, 25 years after the first "Shrek" film came out in May 2001.
The most recent "Shrek" installment, "Shrek Forever After," came out in 2010, though several spinoffs, including 2022's "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" have been released since. The wide-ranging "Shrek" franchise includes short films, a TV show, a Tony-nominated Broadway musical and Universal Studios amusement park attractions.
The series, based on William Steig’s book, was hugely successful for DreamWorks, which was then led by Katzenberg. The Shrek empire, including a pair of feline-focused Puss in Boots spinoffs, is the second-biggest animated franchise of all time at the box office, grossing $2.9 billion globally. It has also spawned a touring show and a Broadway musical.
In 2022, sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish earned a better-than-expected $481.5 million at the worldwide box office in a win for DreamWorks Animation in the post-Katzenberg era (he sold his company to NBCUniversal for a hefty $3.8 billion in 2016).
Meledandri told Variety in April 2023 that he was “thrilled” when he read Murphy’s comments, adding, “It’s evidence of his strong enthusiasm for a role that he so brilliantly inhabited and really created alongside the artists at DreamWorks. I found that comment to be very exciting.”
In an interview last month, Murphy – who voices Donkey – hinted at forthcoming Shrek instalments, including a Donkey spin-off.
“We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago,” he told Collider. “I did this. I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year.”
News of the Shrek sequel has swirled since at least 2018, when reports emerged that Universal, DreamWorks’ parent company, had approached Chris Meledandri – the animation executive behind Despicable Me – to find a new way into the franchise.
Shrek 5 will be directed by Walt Dohrn of the Trolls franchise, who worked on the second and third films as a writer and artist, and served as head of story on the fourth film. Brad Ableson, who directed Minions: The Rise Of Gru, is co-director.
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