Universal Pictures shuffles its release schedule, pushing back the highly anticipated Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026. This strategic move places the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, in its original July 1, 2026, release date, capitalizing on the lucrative Independence Day box office.
Variety reports that this shift allows Shrek 5, the first mainline installment in 16 years, to target the lucrative holiday season. Initially announced in 2016, the project remained relatively dormant until 2023 when Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri confirmed its active development, hinting at a potential Donkey spin-off.
Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, further solidified the project's progress in 2024, confirming recording sessions and reiterating plans for a Donkey solo film. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," he stated. "I did this, I recorded the first act, and we'll be doing it this year. We’ll finish it up. Shrek is coming out, and Donkey's gonna have his own movie. We're gonna do Donkey as well."
The release of Shrek 5 will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original Shrek film, which debuted in 2001. The franchise continued with Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010). The popular Puss in Boots spin-off series also added two successful films, the first in 2011 and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022, which received a 9/10 rating from IGN. IGN praised the film, stating, "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish mixes stunning animation with a poignant, surprisingly mature story to deliver the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."
