The Revival of the "Shrek" Franchise!

DreamWorks Animation has confirmed that “Shrek 5” is in development, which marks the long-awaited return of the fairy-tale parody franchise. The original voice cast is also expected to make a comeback, including Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Fiona, and Eddie Murphy as Donkey. In June 2024, while promoting his film “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024) on “The Kelly Clarkson Show”, Eddie Murphy revealed that he had already started recording lines for Donkey, and suggesting that a spin-off project for his character may be in the works.

The announcement comes after the 2010 release of “Shrek Forever After”, which had been marketed as the final chapter in the series. However, with the recent Hollywood trend of reviving legacy franchises, and with the success of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022), which revived audience interest in the “Shrek” universe, DreamWorks appears confident that there is still a strong demand for fairy-tale satire on the big screen. One of the main surprises that comes with the announcement of “Shrek 5” is Cameron Diaz’s return to acting. The actress had previously retired from Hollywood in 2014, and has only recently begun to make a comeback. Her first major role in over a decade is in Netflix’s upcoming film “Back in Action” (2025).

“Shrek 5” is expected to be released theatrically in the United States on December 23, 2026. As part of Universal’s long-term deal with Netflix, the film will stream on Peacock for the first four months after the initial release, then move to Netflix for the next ten, and then return to Peacock for the remaining four. Walt Dohrn is set to direct the film alongside Conrad Vernon, who previously co-directed “Shrek 2” and voiced the Gingerbread Man in previous films. Michael McCullers is responsible for penning the screenplay, with the film to be produced by Chris Meledandri and Gina Shay.