Universal Pictures has shifted the release date of Shrek 5 by a few months, pushing it back to December 23, 2026. This allows the Despicable Me 3 spin-off, Minions 3, to maintain its original July 1, 2026 release, capitalizing on the Independence Day box office.
Variety reports this scheduling change. Minions 3 will thus adhere to the established pattern of Despicable Me films debuting around Independence Day. Shrek 5, conversely, aims for the lucrative holiday season of 2026, marking its long-awaited return after a 16-year hiatus.
Initially announced in 2016, the sequel remained largely dormant until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, Illumination CEO, confirmed its active development, along with hinting at a potential Donkey spin-off.
Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, corroborated the project's progress a year later, further fueling speculation about the Donkey spin-off. "We started working on Shrek 5 months ago," he stated. "I recorded the first act, and we'll be finishing it this year. Shrek is coming out, and Donkey's getting his own movie. We're doing Donkey as well."
The release of Shrek 5 will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the franchise, as the original film premiered in 2001. It was followed by Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010).
The Puss in Boots spin-offs have also proven successful, with the first released in 2011 and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received exceptional reviews, including a 9/10 rating from IGN, who described it as "a stunning animated film with a poignant, surprisingly mature story—the Shrek franchise's unexpected answer to Logan."
