Once upon a time (in 2001) there was a lovely princess, a curmudgeonly ogre, and a chatty donkey. Now, 23 years later, the “Shrek” franchise has been DreamWorks’ greatest success, and the studio has been seeing green ever since the first film, thanks to sequels and spinoffs, video games, a TV series, a Broadway musical, and more.
While 2010’s “Shrek Forever After” was supposed to be the fourth and final film, it has been confirmed that a fifth “Shrek” movie is in the works. Find out the latest updates on the highly anticipated sequel—including a confirmed cast, a release date, and more.
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Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson’s 2001 film “Shrek” introduced audiences to the title character (voiced by Mike Myers), an ogre who finds his beloved swamp overrun with fairytale creatures who have been banished by Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). To clear his home, Shrek makes a pact with the narcissistic ruler to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) with the fast-talking Donkey (Eddie Murphy) by his side (whether Shrek wants him there or not). “Shrek” was revolutionary not only for its advancements in CGI, but also for the way it lampooned fairy tale tropes at a time when Disney’s popularity was at a low point.
“Shrek” was a massive box office success, earning more than $487 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. The movie also won the first Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
This led to three direct sequels—“Shrek 2” (2004), “Shrek the Third” (2007), and “Shrek Forever After” (2010)—as well as two spinoff films starring the sword-wielding feline Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas. Altogether, “Shrek” is the second-highest-grossing animated franchise of all time, earning more than $4 billion, behind only the “Despicable Me” movies.
Not too Far, Far Away… Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. pic.twitter.com/S0XHMCw7cU
— Shrek (@Shrek) July 9, 2024
In July 2024, DreamWorks announced that “Shrek 5” will hit theaters on July 1, 2026, with Murphy, Myers, and Diaz returning. This official news came a month after Murphy started telling reporters he was in the process of recording his lines (and planning a currently unannounced Donkey spinoff).
Walt Dohrn, a writer and artist on “Shrek 2,” is onboard to co-direct the fifth entry with Brad Ableson, co-director of “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” “Austin Powers” and “Saturday Night Live” writer Michael McCullers, who has been attached to the project since 2016, wrote the script.
Although it’s taken until 2024 to get a firm greenlight, “Shrek 5” has actually been a possibility for as long as the franchise has been around. In 2004, then-Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed that the series was conceived as a five-film story arc after the success of “Shrek 2.” DreamWorks, however, changed course in 2009, announcing that “Shrek Forever After” would be the final film in the title ogre’s journey. The door seemed closed until February 2014, when Katzenberg told Fox Business Network that fans “can be confident that we’ll have another chapter in the ‘Shrek’ series. We’re not finished, and more importantly, neither is he.”
After NBCUniversal purchased DreamWorks in 2016, new management revived talks to pick the series back up. Sources told the Hollywood Reporter that a fifth “Shrek” film had been slated for 2019. Murphy seemingly confirmed the news, telling CinemaBlend a script was finished; a month later, news broke that McCullers had tackled the new story. Asked about the script in 2017, McCullers said it has “a pretty big reinvention behind it" but offered no specific plot details.
In November 2018, Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri came on as executive producer to oversee the storyline development for both “Shrek 5” and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” with plans for the original cast members, including Myers, Murphy, Diaz, and Banderas, to return. The first tease came in the mid-credits scene of 2022’s “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” as Puss returns to Far, Far Away.
Although “Shrek 5” is in production, there are currently no casting calls for the project.
However, that doesn’t mean you’re far, far away from getting to work on the franchise or other major projects. DreamWorks Animation executive Christi Soper Hilt is the casting director behind the franchise, including the upcoming fifth film. You can read her audition and career advice, including what you can expect during the DreamWorks audition process. Plus, here are more audition tips from some of the best feature animation casting directors across the industry:
Disney, Pixar + More Animated Feature CDs on Their Best Voiceover Audition AdviceCheck out our guides on how to become a cartoon voice actor and how to become a voice actor, which include advice on how to get an agent, how auditions work, and which equipment you’ll need for your home studio. While you wait for more news on the “Shrek 5” casting process, discover how to get involved with other fantasy projects:
- How to Get Cast on Max’s New ‘Harry Potter’ Series
- How to Get Cast on ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’
- Everything We Know About the ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ TV Series
- Everything We Know About the ‘Fourth Wing’ TV Series
Then, head over to our roundup of recent voiceover gigs looking for talent right now. Or, if you’re looking to get a live-action gig, bookmark our main casting page.