Universal Pictures has announced a strategic shift in its release schedule, pushing back Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, and moving the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, into its former slot. According to Variety, Minions 3 will now hit theaters on July 1, 2026, aligning with the tradition of the Despicable Me series capitalizing on the lucrative Independence Day box office. Meanwhile, Shrek 5 is set to capture the holiday audience in 2026, marking the first mainline release in the franchise in 16 years.
The journey to Shrek 5 began with its announcement in 2016, but it wasn't until 2023 that Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development alongside plans for a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, provided further updates a year later, stating, "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago. 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 franchise's 25th anniversary, as the original Shrek debuted in 2001. It was followed by Shrek 2 in 2004, Shrek the Third in 2007, and Shrek Forever After in 2010. Additionally, the Puss in Boots character has seen success with two spin-offs: the first in 2011 and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received glowing reviews, with IGN awarding it a 9/10, praising it as "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish mixes stunning animation with a poignant, surprisingly mature story to deliver the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."
