Universal Pictures has shifted the release date of Shrek 5 by a few months, pushing it back to December 23, 2026. This move allows Minions 3, a spin-off from the Despicable Me franchise, to retain its original July 1, 2026 release date. This keeps the Despicable Me films' tradition of a July 4th weekend release.
As reported by Variety, Shrek 5's new release date targets the lucrative 2026 holiday season. This will mark the first mainline Shrek film in 16 years.
Initially announced in 2016, the sequel remained largely under wraps until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development, along with hints of a potential Donkey spin-off.
Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, further confirmed the project's progress in 2024, stating, "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago...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 franchise, as the original Shrek film debuted in 2001. This was followed by Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010).
The popular Puss in Boots spin-off series also boasts two successful films: the first in 2011, and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter film received glowing reviews, earning a 9/10 rating from IGN, who praised its "stunning animation" and "poignant, surprisingly mature story," calling it "the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."
