Fans of the beloved franchise will have to exercise a bit more patience as the highly anticipated release of Shrek 5 has been delayed by Universal Pictures. The film is now slated to premiere on December 23, 2026, pushing back its original date of July 1, 2025. This shift has left fans eagerly awaiting the next adventure in the Shrek universe.

The wait continues for the grand return of Shrek and friends. Universal Pictures recently announced a rescheduling of the release for Shrek 5, moving the premiere to December 23, 2026. Originally set to debut on July 1, 2025, this change has heightened anticipation among fans eager to see what new adventures Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona will embark on. The delay has sparked discussions among fans about potential plotlines and character developments that could unfold in this beloved animated series.

In a surprising turn, the date previously allocated for Shrek 5 will now be filled by Illumination’s Minions 3. This film has shifted its release date from June 30, 2027, to July 1, 2026, allowing it to capitalize on the summer blockbuster season. Additionally, an unnamed Illumination project has also been rescheduled, moving from March 19, 2027, to June 30, 2027, indicating a strategic reshuffling in their animated lineup that aims to maximize audience engagement.

It has been a significant fifteen years since audiences last saw the iconic characters in Shrek Forever After. However, the excitement is palpable as the original cast members are set to return for this new sequel. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are all reprising their iconic roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona, respectively. Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon will take the helm as directors. Dohrn, who has a rich history with the franchise as a writer and voice actor, is expected to bring a wealth of experience to the project, while Vernon’s previous work on Shrek 2 strengthens the creative team’s connection to the franchise.

Eddie Murphy has previously alluded to his involvement in Shrek 5, revealing that he has already completed some recording work for the film. He also mentioned the exciting news of a potential Donkey spinoff movie in development. “We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago. I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up,” Murphy shared. “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].“ His insights have only fueled fans’ excitement for the upcoming projects.

Although it has been quite some time since the last mainline Shrek film, fans were able to revisit the enchanting universe in 2022 through the spinoff Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. In this film, Antonio Banderas reprised his role as the charming feline, Puss, alongside Salma Hayek and Harvey Guillén. The narrative follows Puss as he learns that he has exhausted eight of his nine lives, leading him on a quest to find the Last Wish of the fallen Wishing Star. This adventure is compounded by the presence of other fairy tale characters competing for the same wish, and Puss finds himself pursued by a mysterious wolf, adding layers of suspense and excitement to the story.