Shrek, the grumpy green ogre, first came onto our screens in 2001 _— and changed pop culture forever. Now, the beloved character and his donkey sidekick are returning for a fifth "Shrek" installment.
The first "Shrek" movie led to a decades-long franchise of animated children’s movies and spinoffs, and sparked a subculture of its own — even Al Pacino is a part of the Shrek-hive.
After four “Shrek” movies, DreamWorks Animations announced July 9 that the franchise was officially getting a much-anticipated update.
Here’s everything we know about “Shrek 5” so far.
When does ‘Shrek 5’ come out?
“Shrek 5” is set to release July 1, 2026, per DreamWorks' announcement.
This marks 16 years since Shrek was on the screen. The fourth "Shrek" installment, “Shrek Forever After," came out in 2010.
The release date will also come in time to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary.
Which original ‘Shrek’ cast members are returning?
According to DreamWorks, Mike Meyers and Eddie Murphy — the original cast members who brought Shrek and Donkey to life, respectively — are returning.
Cameron Diaz, who announced her retirement from acting back in 2018, has also joined the cast to reprise her role as Shrek’s wife, Fiona.
Murphy let it slip in a June interview with Collider that he had already begun voice work for the movie and his Donkey character was getting a spinoff movie of his own.
“We started doing ‘Shrek’ four or five months ago,” Murphy told Collider. “We’re gonna do Donkey as well. So we’re gonna do a ‘Shrek,’ and we’re doing a Donkey (movie).”
Antonio Banderas, who voiced the character Puss in Boots in the “Shrek” movies and spinoffs “Puss in Boots” and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," is not confirmed to return — yet.
