Everybody’s favorite green ogre is coming back to theaters. According to Eddie Murphy — who voices Donkey — Universal Pictures and DreamWorks have plans to create Shrek 5, as well as a spinoff centered around Donkey.
It should come as no surprise that Donkey is going to get his own movie. Shrek’s energetic, dragon-loving friend has been a mainstay throughout the Shrek franchise — from the four films to numerous spinoffs. In a recent interview with Collider, Murphy talked about the future of Shrek, Donkey and Co.
“We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago,” Murphy said. “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. So we’re gonna do a Shrek, and we’re doing a Donkey [movie].”
The first Shrek film arrived in 2001, with the three subsequent additions to the franchise hitting theaters in 2004, 2007, and 2010, respectively. While rumors of a fifth film or a reboot of the franchise have persisted for years, this is as close as fans have come to returning to the swamp.
According to Murphy, fans can expect to see Shrek 5 at some point in 2025.
“I started recording Shrek, I think it’s coming out in 2025, and we’re doing a Donkey one next.”
Having Murphy onboard is huge, but Shrek 5 wouldn’t be the same if Mike Myers (Shrek) and Cameron Diaz (Fiona) don’t return. Thankfully, Chris Meledandri — a creative partner to DreamWorks Animation — revealed in an interview with Variety that he believes the trio will be reunited.
“We anticipate the cast coming back. Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”
