Hold onto your ogre ears, folks! DreamWorks just announced the official release date for Shrek 5, set to hit theatres on July 1, 2026. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are all returning to breathe life back into Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona. It’s been a long wait, but the swamp’s about to get lively again.
DreamWorks Animation dropped the news on X/Twitter, exciting fans with a post that read, “Not too Far, Far Away… @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026, with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz.” The trio’s beloved characters have been sorely missed, and fans are buzzing with anticipation. However, it remains unclear if Antonio Banderas will return as Puss in Boots.
Walt Dohrn, a franchise veteran, will be directing this new adventure. Dohrn has a history with Shrek, having been a writer-artist on Shrek 5 and Shrek the Third. He’s also familiar to fans as the voice of Rumpelstiltskin. Eddie Murphy has already started working on the latest installment, revealing to Collider that he’s recorded the first act and plans to finish up this year. He even hinted at a spinoff for Donkey, saying, “Shrek is coming out and Donkey’s gonna have his own movie.”
The Shrek franchise has been a massive success since its debut in May 2001. The first film brought in a whopping $487 million worldwide, even winning an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The momentum didn’t stop there. Shrek 2 grossed $928 million globally and contended for the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or. Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After continued the streak, pulling in $813 million and $752 million worldwide, respectively. Let’s not forget the spinoff success of Puss in Boots, which raked in $555 million after its 2011 release and got an Oscar nod.
The return of Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona holds a special place in fans’ hearts. Chris Meledandri, a producer for the film and founder of Illumination, believes the original vocal performances are key to its charm. “When you look back on those vocal performances, they’re awesome,” he noted, adding that while a reboot was possible, the nostalgia for these original characters made the decision to bring them back an easy one. Finding a fresh angle that doesn’t feel like just another sequel has been the team’s challenge.
Mark your calendars for July 1, 2026! Shrek 5 is set to be a nostalgic yet fresh adventure with our favourite ogre and friends. Get the popcorn ready because this is one return to Far, Far Away you won’t want to miss.
