Shrek 5 Delayed as It Swaps Release Dates With Minions 3

Universal Pictures shuffles its animation release schedule, pushing back Shrek 5 to a December 23, 2026 release. This move allows Minions 3, a spin-off from the Despicable Me franchise, to maintain its original July 1, 2026, premiere, capitalizing on the Independence Day weekend box office.

Variety reports that this scheduling adjustment positions Shrek 5, the highly anticipated sequel, for the lucrative holiday season. This marks a significant return for the franchise after a 16-year hiatus.

Initially announced in 2016, the project remained relatively quiet until 2023 when Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri confirmed its active development, alongside hints of a potential Donkey spin-off.

Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, further confirmed the film's progress in 2024, stating that recording had begun and that a solo Donkey film was also in the works. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," he revealed. "I did this, I recorded the first act, and we'll be doing it this year. We’ll finish it up. Shrek is coming out, and Donkey's gonna have his own movie. We're gonna do Donkey as well."

Shrek 5's release will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original Shrek film, which debuted in 2001. The franchise includes sequels Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010), as well as two successful Puss in Boots spin-offs (2011 and 2022). The most recent Puss in Boots installment, The Last Wish, received critical acclaim, including a 9/10 rating from IGN, which praised its "stunning animation" and "poignant, surprisingly mature story."