Get your waffles ready, Shrek is back! DreamWorks announced in July 2024 that the beloved animated franchise will be returning for a fifth film, with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all set to reprise their iconic roles in the upcoming Shrek 5. The studio shared the exciting news on social media with a video featuring Smash Mouth’s iconic Shrek soundtrack hit, “All Star,” accompanied by titles announcing that “The All-Star Returns.”
Shrek 5 is scheduled to debut in theaters on July 1, 2026. This date holds special significance as it marks 25 years since the premiere of the first-ever Shrek film back in 2001. The Shrek franchise has been a staple in animated cinema, starting with the 2001 original, which was loosely based on the 1990 children’s picture book “Shrek!” by William Steig. The series continued with 2004’s “Shrek 2,” 2007’s “Shrek the Third,” and 2010’s “Shrek Forever After.” Additionally, there have been two spinoffs based on Puss in Boots, introduced in “Shrek 2″—2011’s “Puss in Boots” and 2022’s “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”
In July 2024, it was confirmed that Mike Myers will reprise his titular role in Shrek 5, Eddie Murphy will return as Donkey, and Cameron Diaz will once again voice Princess Fiona. Other possible returning cast members include Antonio Banderas, who has voiced Puss in Boots in multiple Shrek films and his standalone movies. Julie Andrews and John Cleese could also potentially cameo as Princess Fiona’s parents, Queen Lillian and King Harold, having appeared in Shrek 2-4.
Given that Shrek 5 is being directed by Walt Dohrn, who voiced Shrek Forever After’s main antagonist, Rumpelstiltskin, it seems highly possible that this character might return to cause more trouble for Shrek and his family, despite being imprisoned at the end of the last film.
No plot details have yet been revealed about Shrek 5. However, it seems likely that the events of the new film will pick up some time after its predecessor, Shrek Forever After. In that film, Shrek struggled with being a family man at home with Fiona and their triplets, Farkle, Fergus, and Felicia—whose first birthday party was a central plot point of the film’s conflict. Depending on how far in the future Shrek 5 takes place, the triplets may be older and more central characters in the film, along with Donkey and Dragon’s six hybrid “Dronkey” children.
Eddie Murphy told ET in June 2024 that there is also a standalone Donkey movie in the works, revealing, “We’re doing another Shrek and we’re doing a Donkey movie… just Donkey, well, his dragon wife, his half-dragon donkey children will be in it.”
In June 2024, Murphy shared that production on Shrek 5 had begun six months prior. “We started doing Shrek six months ago,” he said. “Shrek is coming back. So we’re doing another Shrek and we’re doing a Donkey movie. We have a Donkey movie.” Shrek 5 will be in theaters on July 1, 2026. It will then move to streaming, first on Peacock and then Netflix.
Fans of the beloved Shrek franchise have reason to celebrate: production on Shrek 5 is well underway. Eddie Murphy, who has voiced the lovable, comedic character of Donkey since 2001, teased the project in June 2024—despite DreamWorks Animation not officially announcing the film. Adding to the excitement, Murphy hinted at a standalone Donkey movie, which he believes is likely to happen.
“We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago. I did this, I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up,” Murphy told Collider while on a press tour for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley. “Shrek is coming out, and Donkey’s gonna have his own movie.”
It’s been over two decades since the first Shrek film premiered, and the franchise has since released three sequels and two Puss in Boots spin-offs. The six films have grossed over $1.6 billion combined.
Details about the plot of Shrek 5 remain under wraps. However, given the franchise’s history, fans can likely expect a continuation of Shrek’s adventures in the magical land of Far Far Away, filled with humor, memorable characters, and touching moments.
As of now, there is no trailer available for Shrek 5. Given that the movie is still in the early stages of production, fans may need to wait a bit longer for a first look.
Walt Dohrn is directing Shrek 5. He was a writer and artist for Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third. He then served as head of story and voiced Rumpelstiltskin on Shrek Forever After. The previous films in the series were directed by Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson, Kelly Asbury, and Mike Mitchell.
Throughout the years, Murphy has expressed his fondness for the character Donkey and his enthusiasm for upcoming projects, including the potential standalone Donkey movie. “You know, they did Puss in Boots movies,” Murphy told Etalk in 2023. “I was like, ‘They should have done a Donkey movie. Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots.’ I mean, I love Puss in Boots, but he ain’t funny as the Donkey.”
The Far Far Away fairytale isn’t ogre yet. DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures announced Tuesday that a “Shrek 5” film is officially in the works and coming to theaters July 1, 2026, marking 16 years since its prior sequel hit theaters and 25 years since the original’s record-breaking release. Though plot details are still under wraps, original stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz—who played Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona, respectively—are set to return.
The original 2001 film followed a swamp-living ogre named Shrek who, alongside the talkative Donkey, rescues Princess Fiona of Far Far Away, who is cursed to turn into an ogre at night. Her curse is broken by Shrek’s “true love’s kiss,” but she remains an ogre and marries her knight in shining armor. The film grossed more than $492 million worldwide and was critically acclaimed for its visuals, performances, writing, and music. It went on to win the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and helped solidify DreamWorks Animation in the space. Three sequels have since been released. “Shrek 2” grossed $935 million worldwide in 2004, “Shrek the Third” grossed $813 million globally in 2007, and “Shrek Forever After” grossed $756 million in 2010. Two spin-off films—2011’s “Puss in Boots” and 2022’s “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”—were also theatrical hits, grossing $555 million and $485 million, respectively.
Last month, Murphy let it slip in an interview with Collider that he’d begun voice recording for another “Shrek” film “four or five months ago.” He also said a film centered on his character, Donkey, would come after.
Source: ET, Collider, DreamWorks Animation
