Shrek 5‘s delay could be a reaction to fan backlash, which means DreamWorks must repeat Sonic the Hedgehog‘s best strategy. The news about Shrek 5‘s delay was somewhat surprising, but also expected. The film was originally set for a December 2026 release date, placing it in compeтιтion with the likes of Avengers: Doomsday and Ice Age 6.

Now, Shrek 5‘s release date is set for June 30, 2027. The news comes six months after Shrek 5‘s first trailer was released, which caused some backlash over a specific aspect of the upcoming DreamWorks sequel. That said, the delay to the movie could go hand-in-hand with that backlash, teasing that Shrek 5 may be the recipient of a strategy employed by Sonic the Hedgehog.

Shrek 5’s Delay Could Be Linked To The Backlash Over Its First Teaser

The first teaser for Shrek 5 was released in February 2025, yet it came with a catch. Shrek 5‘s animation was different from the style used in the first four movies, with the main characters having minor redesigns for the new era of the franchise.

The Shrek series is incredibly iconic and, naturally, evokes a nostalgic feeling from many. As a result of this, the reaction to the Shrek 5 trailer was divisive. The difference in the animation style is not huge, but it proved to be enough for audiences to call for Shrek 5 to return to the visual style of the original four movies.

Shrek 5‘s delay could be a response to that. The backlash was big enough that those at DreamWorks were surely made aware of it. Of course, Shrek 5‘s delay could simply be to capitalize on the summer movie season, but it would make sense for DreamWorks to go back to an animation style that would appease long-standing Shrek fans.

Sonic The Hedgehog’s Redesign Strategy Could Be Perfect For Shrek 5

This brings to mind the redesign of Sonic the Hedgehog. The first trailer for the 2020 movie caused immense backlash, even bigger than that of Shrek 5. The now-infamous Ugly Sonic became an online meme for years, forcing Paramount Pictures to completely redesign the film’s тιтular character and resulting in a three-month delay from November 2019 to February 2020.

The redesign was incredibly successful for Paramount, with both the new design and the exposure caused by the controversy causing Sonic the Hedgehog to be a box office success. Now, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is in development after the initial trilogy earned over $1.1 billion worldwide, which likely never would have been possible without the redesign of “Ugly Sonic.”

With all that said, Shrek 5 potentially being delayed for a redesign of its own could be perfect. The Sonic team even responded to Shrek 5 and the backlash, joking that if any green ogres need help, they have some tips.

Shrek 5 reverting to an animation style that audiences across the globe know and love would make a lot of sense. Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog situation proved how receptive audiences are to being listened to on matters such as these. As a result, if Shrek 5‘s delay is due to a redesign, it could be perfect for the upcoming movie.