Fans of the Shrek franchise will have to wait longer for the new sequel, as Universal and DreamWorks Animation have announced that the release date for Shrek 5 has been postponed. The film, which was previously scheduled for December 23, 2026, will now be released on June 30, 2027. This marks the second delay for the movie, which was originally slated for a July 2026 release.
The studios did not provide a specific reason for the delay. However, according to industry sources, moving the release date to the summer is a strategic decision. Universal has historically had great success with animated films during the summer months, with examples like the Despicable Me franchise and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The previous December 2026 release date would have placed Shrek 5 in a highly competitive holiday season, alongside major releases such as Disney’s Avengers: Doomsday and Ice Age 6.
The voice cast, including Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, and Cameron Diaz as Fiona, are all confirmed to be returning. Zendaya will also be joining the cast as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter. According to Eddie Murphy, the cast is still in the recording process for Shrek 5, and he is scheduled to begin recording for a separate Donkey spinoff film in September.
Following the announcement, fans on social media expressed frustration with the delay, with many questioning why the release date was announced so far in advance if it was going to be pushed back.
