Shrek 5: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz Returning for 2026 Sequel
The core voice cast will reunite for Shrek 5, set to debut 16 years after Shrek Forever After.
DreamWorks Animation has confirmed that Shrek 5 is officially in the works, with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all reprising their iconic roles. This announcement was made on Wednesday, and the release date is scheduled for July 1, 2026.
The beloved Ogre franchise kicked off in 2001 with the original Shrek film, which became a massive critical and box-office success. Premiering at Cannes, it was the first animated film to compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or in over fifty years and later won the first Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Shrek’s debut, grossing $487 million worldwide, transformed DreamWorks – then known for modest hits like Chicken Run and Antz – into a powerhouse. In 2020, Shrek was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry, recognizing its historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance.
The franchise continued with three more direct sequels: Shrek 2, which also premiered at Cannes and became the highest-grossing film of the series with nearly a billion dollars in global box office revenue, followed by Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After.
A spin-off, Puss in Boots, focused on Antonio Banderas’s charming feline character, premiered in 2011, with its sequel, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, releasing in 2022.
While it remains unconfirmed if Banderas will return for Shrek 5, this seventh installment in the franchise is eagerly anticipated. In a recent interview, Murphy, the voice of Donkey, hinted at more Shrek adventures, including a potential Donkey spin-off.
“We started working on [Shrek 5] months ago,” Murphy revealed to Collider. “I recorded the first act, and we’ll be continuing it this year.”
Speculation about a new Shrek sequel has been circulating since at least 2018 when reports emerged that Universal, DreamWorks’ parent company, had enlisted Chris Meledandri, the mind behind Despicable Me, to revitalize the franchise.
Reflecting on the original vocal performances, Meledandri said, “They’re amazing… I find myself nostalgic for those characterizations.” He added, “Our challenge has been to craft a story that feels fresh and not just another sequel.”