Shrek 5: Release date, cast & everything we know

Shrek in the first Shrek filmDreamWorks

Somebody once told me… Shrek 5 is in development. So, here’s everything you need to know about the next chapter of the iconic animated franchise, including potential release date, cast rumors, and plot speculation.

2001’s smash hit Shrek made almost half a billion dollars at the box office. It’s no surprise, then, that we got three other Shrek movies, two Puss in Boots spinoffs, and a Broadway musical.

The fourth film — Shrek Forever After — was supposed to be the final chapter for everyone’s favorite ogre and his friends. However rumors started to swirl about a possible fifth animated movie being in the works, and those rumors were confirmed to be true in 2023.

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Fans couldn’t be more excited to dive back into the swamp and hang with their fairytale pals once more. So here’s everything we know about Shrek 5, including when we can expect the new movie to arrive.

Is there a Shrek 5 release date?

Shrek 5 is currently planned for release on July 1, 2026, just a few days after the 25th anniversary of the original film. Oh god… we’re old.

The movie was originally set for release in 2020, as per Eddie Murphy, but there has obviously been a bit of a delay since then.

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Shrek 5 cast: Who would be in it?

Dreamworks has also revealed that franchise mainstays Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy will return in Shrek 5.

Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri confirmed a fifth movie, with the original cast, was in the works back in 2023. Whether Antonio Banderas will return as Puss in Boots following the character’s spin-off adventures is still unconfirmed, however.

“When you look back on those vocal performances they’re awesome, and while you certainly could make a case for a complete reinvention, I find myself responding to my own nostalgic feelings of wanting to go back to those characterizations,” he said.

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Shrek 5 plot: What would it be about?

There are no plot details for Shrek 5 right now. However, there’ve been bits and pieces revealed over the years, including that we could see a “reinvention” of the original series.

Shrek and Princess Fiona in Shrek 2DreamWorks

Back in March 2017, Michael McCullers, the popular screenwriter set to write Shrek 5, revealed that the movie is set to be a “pretty big reinvention” of the series. He also added: “There’s been four movies and a lot of material, so the characters are pretty beloved and they’re great characters, but you also have to think of a pretty new take at that point.”

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Although that was five years ago, Mike Myers said in May 2022 that he would be “thrilled” if he got the chance to do one Shrek movie every year.

Clearly, Myers is more than ready to reprise his role, even if it’s in a somewhat altered Shrek universe. Whatever is coming next in the Shrek franchise, it might not be revealed for quite some time.

That’s everything we know about Shrek 5 so far. In the meantime, here are all the movies hitting streaming this month, and the TV shows streaming this month too.

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