Universal Pictures has recently adjusted the release schedule for two of its eagerly awaited animated films. Shrek 5 has been postponed to December 23, 2026, shifting from its earlier planned release date. In a strategic move, Minions 3, a spin-off from the Despicable Me series, will now take over the original slot of Shrek 5 and is set to hit theaters on July 1, 2026. This adjustment aligns Minions 3 with the traditional Independence Day weekend, a period that has historically been lucrative for the Despicable Me franchise.
Originally announced in 2016, Shrek 5 had been quiet until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development alongside plans for a Donkey spin-off. The excitement around these projects was further fueled by Eddie Murphy, the voice behind Donkey, who confirmed that production on Shrek 5 had commenced. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," he shared. "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."
When Shrek 5 premieres, it will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original Shrek movie, which was released in 2001. The franchise has since expanded with sequels Shrek 2 in 2004, Shrek the Third in 2007, and Shrek Forever After in 2010. Additionally, the character Puss in Boots has starred in two successful spin-offs: the first in 2011 and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter film received high praise, earning a 9/10 from IGN, which described it as "mixing stunning animation with a poignant, surprisingly mature story to deliver the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."
