What's in this guide
If you have searched for Shrek 5 recently you have probably seen three different release dates, and that confusion is the story. The swamp is reopening, the original voice cast is back, and Zendaya has joined, but the date has moved twice. Here is what is actually confirmed.
Shrek 5 Release Date: What Changed
Shrek 5 is currently dated for June 30, 2027. Getting there took two delays, which is why so many older articles disagree:
- July 1, 2026 – the date DreamWorks announced in July 2024
- December 23, 2026 – pushed in January 2025 to make room for another Universal release
- June 30, 2027 – the current date, confirmed in August 2025
Universal did not give a reason for the second move, but the pattern is readable: its animated titles have performed strongly in summer, from Despicable Me to The Super Mario Bros. Movie. On the new date, Shrek 5 opens less than a week after Sony's Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. On the old one, it would have followed Avengers: Doomsday and Ice Age 6.
If you see December 2026 quoted anywhere, that source has not been updated since mid-2025.
The Shrek 5 Cast
The headline is that the original trio is genuinely back, which was never guaranteed:
- Mike Myers as Shrek
- Eddie Murphy as Donkey
- Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona
- Zendaya as Felicia, Shrek and Fiona's daughter
- Marcello Hernández and Skyler Gisondo as Fergus and Farkle, their sons, announced at the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn direct. Dohrn worked on Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third and voiced Rumpelstiltskin in Shrek Forever After, so this is not an outside team taking over.
The Teaser Backlash
A proof-of-concept teaser dropped in February 2025 revealing the cast, and the reaction was sharply divided. The complaints centred on the updated character designs, which looked smoother and more modern than the 2001 to 2010 originals.
DreamWorks responded. Later footage tweaked the designs to pull details back toward the original look, with Shrek and Donkey's eyes in particular made to read more naturally. Studios rarely acknowledge that kind of feedback publicly, and the adjustment suggests they took it seriously.
Seventeen years between sequels, the original three leads back in the booth, and a design that got walked back after fans pushed. DreamWorks is treating this as a continuation rather than a reboot.
Where Shrek 5 Fits
The franchise has grossed over $4 billion worldwide across four films and two Puss in Boots spinoffs. The original won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002.
Shrek 5 arrives 17 years after Shrek Forever After in 2010, the longest gap for any DreamWorks Animation sequel, beating Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. A Donkey spinoff with Eddie Murphy is also confirmed for June 30, 2028, directed by Charlie Bean.
Where to Watch Shrek 5
Shrek 5 will be a theatrical release. No streaming plans have been announced, but Universal animated titles typically reach Peacock a few months after release. In the meantime, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish are on Peacock, and all four films are available to buy digitally.
Should You Be Excited?
Cautiously. Getting Myers, Murphy and Diaz back together was the hard part, and DreamWorks clearly wants this to feel like a genuine continuation. The design backlash and two delays are worth noting, but a studio adjusting its work after criticism is a better sign than one ignoring it.
June 2027 is a long way out, and dates this far ahead can still move. We will update this post if they do.
Shrek 5 FAQ
When does Shrek 5 come out?
June 30, 2027. It was previously dated July 2026 and then December 2026, so older articles quoting those dates are out of date.
Why was Shrek 5 delayed?
Twice. The first move to December 2026 made room for another Universal release. The second, to June 2027, was not explained publicly, though Universal has had strong results with animated films in summer.
Is the original cast returning?
Yes. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz all return as Shrek, Donkey and Fiona.
Who is Zendaya playing in Shrek 5?
Felicia, Shrek and Fiona's daughter. Their sons Fergus and Farkle are voiced by Marcello Hernández and Skyler Gisondo.
Why did fans dislike the Shrek 5 teaser?
The February 2025 proof-of-concept teaser showed updated character designs that many felt lost the look of the originals. DreamWorks later adjusted them to sit closer to the 2001 designs.
Is there a Donkey spinoff?
Yes. Donkey is confirmed for June 30, 2028, with Eddie Murphy returning and Charlie Bean directing.
For everything else dated, see our 2026 release calendar, or our Avengers: Doomsday guide.
