Shrek 5 Release Delayed, Swaps Dates with Minions 3

Universal Pictures has recently announced a shift in their release schedule, moving Shrek 5 to a new premiere date of December 23, 2026. This adjustment comes as the studio plans to fill the original slot with the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, set to hit theaters on July 1, 2026. This move aligns Minions 3 with the lucrative Independence Day box office, continuing the tradition set by the Despicable Me series. Meanwhile, Shrek 5 is poised to capitalize on the holiday season, marking its return to the big screen after a 16-year hiatus.

The development of Shrek 5 was first announced in 2016, but progress seemed to stall until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development. Alongside this announcement, Meledandri also expressed interest in a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, the voice behind Donkey, further solidified these plans in 2024, stating that production on Shrek 5 had already begun and that he had recorded the first act. He also confirmed the upcoming Donkey movie, saying, "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago. 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."

The release of Shrek 5 will coincide with the franchise's 25th anniversary, celebrating the legacy that began with the original Shrek in 2001. The series has since expanded with sequels including Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010).

In addition to the mainline Shrek films, the franchise has also ventured into spin-offs with the Puss in Boots series. The first Puss in Boots film debuted in 2011, followed by Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received widespread acclaim, earning a 9/10 from IGN, which praised it as, "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish mixes stunning animation with a poignant, surprisingly mature story to deliver the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."