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.
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.
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.
Not too Far, Far Away… @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. pic.twitter.com/3j6ctXpPGu
— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) July 9, 2024
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.
Who will 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
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.
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.”
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.
Myers added in an interview with Vulture “I want Donkey to live in my house. I love that character, and I kind of enjoy not seeing Eddie, although he’s hilarious and lovely and very nice, a generous human being.
“I love Donkey so much that seeing and hearing him gets me excited. Then I see Eddie at the press junkets and stuff, and it’s fun. He’s a cool dude. Cooler than I’ll ever be.”
That’s everything we know about Shrek 5 so far. Check out updates for other big sequels including Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5.
In the meantime, here are all the movies hitting streaming this month, and the TV shows streaming this month too.
