Universal Pictures shuffles its release schedule, pushing back Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, while Minions 3, a Despicable Me spin-off, retains its original July 1, 2026, premiere.
Variety reports this scheduling adjustment. The Minions sequel will thus continue the franchise's tradition of a July 4th weekend release. Shrek 5, conversely, aims for the lucrative holiday season, marking its return after a 16-year hiatus.
Initially announced in 2016, the project remained dormant until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, Illumination CEO, confirmed its active development, along with a potential Donkey spin-off.
Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, corroborated the film's progress in 2024, further fueling speculation about the Donkey spin-off. "We started working on Shrek 5 months ago," he stated. "I've recorded the first act, and we'll finish it this year. Shrek is coming out, and Donkey's getting his own movie."
Shrek 5's release will coincide with the franchise's 25th anniversary, as the original film debuted in 2001. Subsequent sequels, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After, were released in 2004, 2007, and 2010, respectively.
The Puss in Boots spin-off series has also proven successful, with the first installment in 2011 and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received glowing reviews, including a 9/10 rating from IGN, which praised its "stunning animation and poignant, surprisingly mature story," describing it as "the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan."
