lIf you thought the ‘Shrek’ franchise was DOA, think again. It seems as though the upcoming “Shrek 5” won’t be the last.
Dana Carvey, speaking on his podcast Fly on the Wall, says he spoke to “Shrek” star Mike Myers, who told him, “we’re doing two more.” That suggests “Shrek 6” is already in the works. Who knows — maybe there’s even more beyond that.
The ‘Shrek’ franchise really ran its course after the second film. Somehow, they managed to stretch it into four movies, the last being 2010’s “Shrek Forever After.” If you remember, the first two films actually competed in official competition at Cannes. That was then; this is now.
Zendaya recently joined the animated series as the daughter of Shrek (Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz). She joins Eddie Murphy, who returns as the voice of Donkey. It doesn’t appear that Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots will be in “Shrek 5,” as he was not part of the official announcement.
DreamWorks and Universal have also shifted the release date for “Shrek 5.” The film was originally announced for July 1, 2026, before being pushed to December 23, 2026. However, the studio later delayed it again to June 30, 2027.
The ‘Shrek’ franchise has featured a rotating lineup of directors across its films. The original “Shrek” was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, while “Shrek 2” added Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon. “Shrek the Third” was helmed by Chris Miller and Raman Hui, followed by Mike Mitchell directing “Shrek Forever After.” “Shrek 5” is being directed by Walt Dohrn, Conrad Vernon, and Brad Ableson.
“Shrek 5” will arrive 17 years after the previous film, 2010’s “Shrek Forever After.” Is there still juice left in this franchise? Probably. There’s plenty of nostalgia left to milk.