Shrek 5 Delayed as It Swaps Release Dates With Minions 3

Universal Pictures shuffles its release schedule, pushing back Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, while keeping Minions 3 in its original July 1, 2026 slot. This strategic move, as reported by Variety, allows the Despicable Me spin-off to capitalize on the lucrative Independence Day box office, a tradition established by previous installments. Shrek 5, the highly anticipated return of the beloved ogre after a 16-year hiatus, will now aim for the holiday season.

Initially announced in 2016, the project remained relatively quiet until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development, along with hints of a potential Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, further solidified the project's progress in 2024, confirming recording sessions and reiterating the possibility of a Donkey solo film. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," he stated, "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 25th anniversary of the franchise, marking a significant milestone since the original film's debut in 2001. The franchise's success has spanned four mainline films (Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After in 2004, 2007, and 2010 respectively) and two Puss in Boots spin-offs (2011 and 2022's critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which IGN awarded a 9/10, praising its "stunning animation" and "poignant, surprisingly mature story").