We’re back in the swamp.
DreamWorks Animation has announced thata partner Development on “5” has officially begun, and it’s set to be released on July 1, 2026. Original “Shrek” stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz have also been confirmed to return.
Antonio Banderas returns as the brave cat cat in boots It has not yet been confirmed. Shrek 5 will be directed by Walt Dorn, who worked as a writer and artist on Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, and was the story lead for Shrek Forever After, in which he also voiced Rumpelstiltskin. Shrek 5 will be produced by franchise returner Gina Shay and Illumination founder Chris Meledandri; Brad Ableson will serve as co-director.
Murphy Let it slide in June He has already started recording his voice for the film and will next do a spin-off film based on the Donkey film series.
We started doing this. [‘Shrek 5’] “Months ago,” Murphy told Collider. “I did this. I recorded the first act, and we’re going to do it this year, and we’re going to finish it. The Shrek movie is coming out soon and Donkey is going to get his own movie. We’re going to do Donkey, too. So we’re going to do the Shrek movie, and we’re going to do Donkey.” [movie]”.”
The Shrek franchise released four feature films between 2001 and 2010. The original Shrek turned DreamWorks Animation into a powerhouse studio, grossing $487 million worldwide. It became the first Academy Award winner for an animated feature film. Shrek 2 grossed $928 million. Both films competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. While less critically acclaimed than the first two films, Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After grossed $813 million and $752 million worldwide. The Puss in Boots spinoffs were also huge box office hits, grossing $555 million and $484 million, respectively.
like diverse Reported In 2018, worldwide Meledandri (who is also the powerhouse producer behind the “Despicable Me” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” franchises) was tapped by Pictures to oversee the revival of the company’s “Shrek” and “Puss in Boots” franchises. The animation guru at the time was adamant that the series’ voice acting, which he hailed as key to the success of the “Shrek” films, should not be tampered with.
“When you look at those voice performances, they’re amazing, and while you could certainly make a case for completely reinventing the movie, I find myself responding to the nostalgic feelings of wanting to go back to those characters,” Meledandri said. “The challenge we had was to find something that didn’t really feel like just another movie in a series of sequels.”
The Shrek film series also includes spin-offs from the Puss in Boots film series, the most recent of which was Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which hit theaters in December 2022. The film was a box office success, grossing $484 million worldwide, and also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
The success of The Last Wish has reignited interest in a possible fifth Shrek film, with Murphy as the voice of the donkey. Say in January 2023“if [DreamWorks] “If there was another Shrek movie, I would do it in two seconds. I love Donkey. They made Puss in Boots movies. I was like, ‘They should have made a Donkey movie.’ Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots. I mean, I love Puss in Boots, but he’s not funny as Donkey.”
Meledandri Tell diverse In April 2023, he said he was “delighted” to read Murphy’s comments, adding: “This is a testament to his immense enthusiasm for a role he has so brilliantly embodied and truly created alongside the artists at DreamWorks. I found this comment very moving.”
Asked if he thought the donkey character could support his own movie, similar to the Antonio Banderas-starring cat-fighting spinoffs, Meledandri replied, “Absolutely.” He also said he’s eager to see the film’s original voice cast (which includes Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Murphy) return for “Shrek 5.”
Although no agreements had been reached at the time, Meledandri said negotiations with the three actors were going well. “We expect the actors to return,” he said in April. “Talks have started now, and all the indications we have are that there is a huge enthusiasm on the part of the actors to return.”
Disclaimer: NBC News is part of NBCUniversal News Group, a division of NBCUniversal, which owns Dreamworks.
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