The gang’s heading back to the swamp!
DreamWorks Animation announced on Tuesday, July 9, that franchise stars Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy are all confirmed for Shrek 5.
Universal Pictures will release the new movie on July 1, 2026 — just over 25 years after the original film that started it all and became a major cultural phenomenon.
Myers, 61, Diaz, 51, and Murphy, 63, will be reprising their iconic roles as Shrek, Fiona and Donkey, respectively. New characters, other cast members and plot details have yet to be announced. Based on past casts for the Shrek universe movies that have attracted plenty of talent, it’s sure to be an A-List affair.
Last month, Murphy told Collider that he had already started work on Shrek 5, along with a movie dedicated to his character. “We started doing Shrek [5] four or five months ago,” he said. “I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up.”
Murphy added, “I think [Shrek 5 is] coming out in 2025, and we’re doing a Donkey one next.” In January 2023, Murphy said he’d reprise his role as Donkey “in two seconds.”
Myers said in a 2022 interview with GQ, “If I had to do one Shrek a year I’d be thrilled.”
The first Shrek hit theaters in 2001 and won the first Academy Award for best animated feature film. DreamWorks Animation has since released three sequels and two Puss in Boots spinoffs starring Antonio Banderas’ character. A Broadway musical, Shrek the Musical, premiered in 2008. The franchise is inspired by William Stieg’s 1990 children’s book Shrek!.
Many actors have joined the Shrek cinematic universe, including Julie Andrews, John Lithgow, Rupert Everett, John Cleese, Amy Sedaris, Craig Robinson and Jon Hamm.For fans who always wanted to see where Shrek lives, there is a real-life swamp park you can visit at Universal Studios in Orlando, which includes Shrek’s outhouse.
Shrek grossed over $267 million worldwide during its original run, according to Box Office Mojo. Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third would ultimately surpass the original in 2004 and 2007, respectively.
The fourth Shrek movie, Shrek Forever After premiered in 2010.