Shrek 5 is officially confirmed with original cast set to return

4 April 2023, 15:01 | Updated: 15 November 2024, 17:45

Shrek 5 is in the works with original cast returning. Picture: Dreamworks via Alamy

By Katie Louise Smith

Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas are all said to be returning for the fifth movie.

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It's finally happening: Shrek 5 is officially in the works at Dreamworks. And so is a Donkey spin-off movie!

News that a brand new Shrek film was on the way first broke in 2023. As reported by Variety, Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri began negotiating deals with the original cast of the animated franchise – including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas – so they can return for the fifth movie in the beloved franchise.

The latest news? It's now been confirmed that Shrek 5 will be released in July 2026, in time for the franchise's 25th anniversary. In a new interview, Eddie Murphy revealed that he has already recorded parts of the fifth film.

Eddie will be joined by Mike and Cameron who will reprise their roles as Shrek and Fiona. The rest of the cast is still yet to be announced.

What will Shrek 5 be about?

Watch the very first trailer for 2001's Shrek

No plot details for Shrek 5 have been revealed yet, but things are now in full swing.

Over the years, Eddie Murphy has been incredibly vocal about wanting to return for another Shrek film – as well as a Donkey spin-off movie. In a recent interview with ETalk, he said: "I'd absolutely be open. If they ever came with another Shrek, I'd do it in two seconds. I love Donkey," he said.

While promoting his new film Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F in June 2024, he confirmed that it's officially all systems go.

Not too Far, Far Away… @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. pic.twitter.com/3j6ctXpPGu
— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) July 9, 2024

“We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago," he told Collider. "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. So we're gonna do a Shrek, and we're doing a Donkey [movie].”

When asked if he was recording for the Donkey spin-off at the same time as Shrek, he clarified: "No, not at the same time. I started recording Shrek [...] and we're doing a Donkey one next."

Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy are set to return for Shrek 5. Picture: Alamy

Antonio Banderas, who voices Puss in Boots also recently shared that he's down for Shrek 5, too. "I’ve done five movies now. There is probably gonna be another, and [Shrek] is probably coming back," he told Deadline.

Mike Myers, who is now confirmed to return, also shared that if he "had to do one ‘Shrek’ a year he'd be thrilled" in an interview with GQ.

It's safe to assume that we're about to have another Shrek banger on our hands.