After more than a decade since the last installment of the franchise, fans are still looking for Shrek 5 to take them back to Far, Far Away. In 2001, the landscape of animated films changed forever when Shrek premiered. A clever amalgamation of wry adult comedy and bucolic, kid-friendly whimsy, it puts a twist on the fairytale format with outrageous trope-smashing characters, a catchy soundtrack, and a wonderful message of self-discovery. It was swiftly followed by Shrek 2 in 2002, Shrek the Third in 2007, and Shrek Forever After in 2010.

Though development has been slow, Shrek 5 is still happening — and despite alterations in direction and storylines, it seems to finally be coming out of the ever-dreaded development hell. The success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has reignited interest in the Shrek franchise with the acclaimed spinoff movie teasing more adventures in the land of Far, Far Away. After such a long wait, Shrek 5 could prove to be the most exciting installment of the franchise that helped put Dreamworks on the map as a powerhouse of CGI animation.

The Latest Shrek 5 News

The Release Date Is Moved To Later In 2026

A few months after the release date for the long-awaited sequel was announced, the latest news confirms that Shrek 5‘s release date has been moved. Originally slotted to premiere on July 1, 2026, Shrek 5 has now lost its original release date to the upcoming Minions 3, which is being moved up by an entire year. Now, the fifth movie in the main Shrek series will debut on December 23, 2026. Though it won’t be a summer blockbuster, Shrek 5‘s Christmastime release means it could steal the show for the holiday season as families flock to the theaters.

Shrek 5 Release Date

The Beloved Ogre Returns In 2026

Unlike other franchises, the future of the Shrek films was blocked out from the beginning, and Shrek 5 has theoretically been confirmed since the premiere of Shrek 2 in 2004. Now, the long-awaited Shrek 5 has found a spot on the schedule, and will debut in theaters on December 23, 2026. The sequel was originally supposed to premiere in July 2026, but it lost its spot to the upcoming Minions 3, which will now debut on July 1, 2026, instead.

No reason for the change has been announced, but it isn’t necessarily a bad move for the long-awaited sequel. While Minions 3 will undoubtedly succeed as a family-friendly summer blockbuster, Shrek 5 is more than just another sequel. The 16-year gap between sequels means the franchise’s return is something of a cinematic event, and it also comes in the same year as the first film’s 25th anniversary. All this makes Shrek 5 the perfect holiday movie-going experience, as audiences of all ages can join in on the fun.

Shrek 5 Cast Details

Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey Will Return

The largest question looming over Shrek 5 was the status of the beloved main cast, but recent updates have confirmed the original trio will return. Being the franchise’s largest cheerleader in recent years, Eddie Murphy confirmed his return as Donkey in Shrek 5‘s cast. Likewise, the return of Mike Myers as the lovable ogre, Shrek, wasn’t really a surprise considering his enthusiasm for potential sequels. The only question mark was the return of Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona, since the actor largely retired from the limelight. Fortunately, Diaz has since abandoned her “retirement” and will voice the character.

As for the rest of the cast, it’s highly likely that Antonio Banderas could reprise his role as Puss in Boots, but the actor hasn’t signed on yet. The Shrek franchise often employs a healthy roster of supporting guest stars, and there will need to be a few newcomers to keep the story fresh. Other returning characters are less certain, but recurring fairy tale characters like Gingerbread Man and Pinocchio could also return to once again annoy Shrek and company.

The confirmed cast of Shrek 5 includes:

Actor	Shrek 5 Role
Mike Myers	Shrek
Eddie Murphy	Donkey
Cameron Diaz	Fiona

Shrek 5 Story Details

What Happens After Forever After?

Despite a slew of script-related updates over the years, no actual story details have been revealed about the long-awaited Shrek 5. With Shrek and Fiona settled down after Shrek 4, something big would need to happen to dislodge the two from their happy ever after. One avenue that could be explored would be Shrek and Fiona’s kids, most of whom would be older teens by the time Shrek 5‘s story takes place. This could offer all sorts of narrative possibilities as Shrek ages and tries to stay in touch with the younger generation of fairy tale characters.

With so much time pᴀssing, there’s also the opportunity to explore what has happened in the fairy tale universe since the fourth film back in 2010. Just catching up with all of Shrek’s friends (and enemies for that matter) would make for a compelling movie, but the series has never struggled to deliver an interesting story as well. While earlier films appealed to kids, Shrek 5 could speak directly to adults who have grown up with the movies since 2001.