Shrek 5

Shrek 5
A green numeral "5" with ogre ears.
Teaser poster
Directed byWalt Dohrn
Screenplay byMichael McCullers
Based onShrek!
by William Steig
Produced by
Starring
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • July 1, 2026 (2026-07-01)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Shrek 5 is an upcoming American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 picture book Shrek! by William Steig, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The sequel to Shrek Forever After (2010), it serves as the fifth main installment and the seventh overall installment in the Shrek film series. The film is directed by Walt Dohrn and co-directed by Brad Ableson from a screenplay written by Michael McCullers, and produced by Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri and Gina Shay. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz will reprise their respective voice roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona.

A fifth Shrek film was initially planned after the release of Shrek 2 (2004) with a 2013 release date in mind. However, when former DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg decided to end the franchise in its fourth film, plans for a fifth installment were abandoned and Shrek Forever After was released as the final Shrek film. Eventually, development resurfaced in 2014 and Universal Pictures officially confirmed production of a fifth Shrek film when its parent company, NBCUniversal, bought DreamWorks Animation in 2016 with updates following from March 2017 to July 2024.

Shrek 5 is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on July 1, 2026.

Voice cast

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Main article: List of Shrek (franchise) characters

Production

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Background

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Following the success of Shrek 2 in May 2004, then-DreamWorks Animation (DWA) CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed that the Shrek story had been outlined into five films almost from the beginning. "Before the first one was finished we talked about what the whole story of Shrek is, and each of the chapters answers questions about the first movie and gives us an insight," said Katzenberg. "Shrek 3 and 4 are going to reveal other unanswered questions and, finally, in the last chapter, we will understand how Shrek came to be in that swamp, when we meet him in the first movie".[2] After the release of Shrek the Third in 2007, Katzenberg announced that the fifth film would be released in 2013.[3]

In May 2009, DreamWorks announced that the fourth film's title would be Shrek Forever After, indicating that it would be the last in the Shrek series.[4] Later in 2009, that was confirmed by Bill Damaschke, the former head of creative production at DWA, with him saying: "All that was loved about Shrek in the first film is brought to the final film".[5] Josh Klausner, one of the writers of Shrek Forever After, explained in 2010 the script's evolution: "When I first came onto the project, it wasn't supposed to be the final chapter — there were originally going to be five Shrek movies. Then, about a year into the development, Jeffrey Katzenberg decided that the story that we'd come up with was the right way for Shrek's journey to end, which was incredibly flattering".[6]

In February 2014, during an interview with Fox Business, Katzenberg hinted that a fifth film may still be made: "We like to let them have a little bit of time to rest", he said of the characters. "But I think you can be confident that we'll have another chapter in the Shrek series. We're not finished, and more importantly, neither is he".[7]

Development

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In June 2016, after NBCUniversal purchased DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion, NBCUniversal chief Steve Burke discussed plans to revive the Shrek franchise, as well as other DreamWorks films.[8][9] In July 2016, The Hollywood Reporter cited sources saying that the fifth film was planned for a 2019 release.[10] In September 2016, Eddie Murphy confirmed that the film was expected to be released in 2019 or 2020, and that the script had been completed.[11] The original story for the film was written by Michael McCullers, based on his own idea.[12][13] When asked about the script for a fifth Shrek film in March 2017, McCullers said it featured "a pretty big reinvention" for the film series.[14]

In November 2018, it was reported by Variety that Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri had been tasked to be one of the executive producers of both the untitled Shrek film and the spin-off film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, with the original cast potentially returning.[15][16][17] In December 2022, Antonio Banderas reiterated that a new Shrek film is still in development.[18][19][20] The film was teased in the mid-credits scene of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish with Puss returning to Far, Far Away.[21] In April 2023, Meledandri confirmed a fifth Shrek film is in development, with the original cast—Murphy, Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz—in negotiations to reprise their roles.[22] Meledandri said the filmmakers would "look at what the core elements are that audiences have loved" and try to "honor those elements" in a similar vein to Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie.[23]

In June 2024, while promoting his film Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Murphy confirmed that he had started recording his lines for the film a couple of months earlier,[24] expecting it to be released sometime in 2025.[25] In July 2024, DreamWorks announced that the film, tentatively titled Shrek 5, would be released on July 1, 2026, with Myers, Murphy, and Diaz confirmed to reprise their roles.[26] Walt Dohrn, who previously served as a story artist on Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, as well as the head of story and voice of Rumpelstiltskin in Shrek Forever After, was also attached to direct, with Illumination's Minions: The Rise of Gru co-director Brad Ableson co-directing and Gina Shay co-producing with Meledandri.[1]

Release

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Shrek 5 is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 1, 2026, 16 years after the release of Forever After and 25 years after the original Shrek film.[26]

As part of Universal's long-term deal with Netflix, the film will stream on Peacock for the first four months of the pay-TV window, before moving to Netflix for the next ten, and returning to Peacock for the remaining four.[27][28]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Couch, Aaron; McClintock, Pamela (July 9, 2024). "Shrek 5 Set for 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz Returning". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  2. ^ Linder, Brian (May 17, 2004). "More 'Shrek'". IGN. Archived from the original on April 12, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  3. ^ Partridge, Des (June 7, 2007). "More 'Shrek' set to roll". The Courier Mail. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  4. ^ "DreamWorks Animation Announces Plans to Release Five Feature Films Every Two Years". DreamWorks Animation. May 28, 2009. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  5. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (November 26, 2009). "First look: 'Shrek Forever After': Fourth, final film is first in 3-D". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  6. ^ Eckerling, Debra (May 15, 2010). "We Asked ... Josh Klausner and Darren Lemke, "Shrek Forever After"". Storylink. Archived from the original on December 30, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  7. ^ McNary, Dave (February 24, 2014). "DreamWorks Animation CEO Hints at Another 'Shrek' Movie". Variety. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  8. ^ Lieberman, David (June 14, 2016). "NBCU Chief Looks To Revive 'Shrek' And Sales From DreamWorks Animation Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  9. ^ "Shrek Movies: NBCUniversal is Planning More Sequels". ComingSoon. June 15, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  10. ^ Masters, Kim (July 20, 2016). "Jeffrey Katzenberg Plots Next Act as Universal Faces DreamWorks Questions". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 21, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  11. ^ O'Connell, Sean (September 16, 2016). "When Shrek 5 Could Hit Theaters, According To Eddie Murphy". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  12. ^ Heath, Paul (October 17, 2016). "Exclusive: Writer revealed for Dreamworks' 'Shrek 5' – 'Sky High 2' coming?". The Hollywood News. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  13. ^ Schaefer, Sandy (July 20, 2016). "Shrek 5 Arrives in 2019". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Lee, Ashley (March 31, 2017). "'Boss Baby' Screenwriter on Skewering Corporate Culture and All Those (Coincidental) Trump References". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  15. ^ Lang, Brent (November 6, 2018). "'Shrek,' 'Puss in Boots' Getting Rebooted (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  16. ^ Lang, Brent (November 6, 2018). "How Chris Meledandri Became the Most Powerful Man in Animation". Variety. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  17. ^ Baxter, Joseph (November 6, 2018). "Shrek Reboot in the Works, Overseen by Illumination Boss". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  18. ^ Fuge, Jonathan (December 8, 2022). "Shrek 5 is in Development, Teases Puss in Boots Star Antonio Banderas". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Bythrow, Nick (December 8, 2022). "Shrek 5 Gets Exciting & Surprising Update From Antonio Banderas". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  20. ^ Utely, Riley (December 9, 2022). "Could Shrek 5 Really Happen With Mike Myers? Antonio Banderas Offers Honest Update". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  21. ^ "Why this 'Puss in Boots 2' Easter egg is great news for 'Shrek' fans". TimeOut. January 30, 2023. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  22. ^ Fuge, Jonathan (April 4, 2023). "Shrek 5 Now in Development, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy & Cameron Diaz in Talks to Return". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  23. ^ Lang, Brent; Shanfeld, Ethan (April 4, 2023). "'Shrek 5' With Original Cast, Donkey Spinoff With Eddie Murphy and More Teased by Illumination's Chris Meledandri (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  24. ^ The Kelly Clarkson Show (June 27, 2024). Eddie Murphy Admits Voicing Donkey For 'Shrek 5' Gives Him Headaches. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ McPherson, Chris (June 24, 2024). "Eddie Murphy Finally Delivers Huge Update on 'Shrek 5' and 'Donkey' Spin-Off Movie [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Sharf, Zack; Shanfeld, Ethan (July 9, 2024). "Shrek 5 Set for July 2026 With Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz Returning". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  27. ^ Hayes, Dade (December 9, 2021). "NBCUniversal's New Theatrical Window Scheme To Bring Films To Peacock After As Few As 45 Days Of Release". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  28. ^ Moon, Mariella (July 14, 2021). "Netflix extends exclusive rights to Universal's animated films in the US". Engadget. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
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