Twenty-five years ago, the silver screen was forever changed by a grumpy, green ogre from Scotland. Since its debut, Shrek has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon, spawning a vast empire of sequels, spin-offs, and an endless array of memorabilia—ranging from viral memes to celebrity-owned phone cases. Yet, the version of the character the world fell in love with was almost fundamentally different. The iconic ogre was never intended to be Scottish, and before Mike Myers stepped into the recording booth, the role was envisioned for a different Saturday Night Live legend.
The original voice behind the swamp-dweller was the late Chris Farley. His tragic passing in 1997 forced DreamWorks to pivot, eventually leading to the casting of Myers. While the final film stands as an animated masterpiece, the “what-if” scenario remains a point of fascination for fans. To mark the film’s 25th anniversary, we sat down with Tom Farley—Chris’s brother and the author of the poignant biography The Chris Farley Show—to reflect on the version of the character that almost was.
Tom Farley admits that his brother didn’t discuss the project in depth while he was alive. “He mentioned he was working on a movie about an ogre,” Tom recalls. “I’m not even sure if he specified that it was an animated feature at the time.”
It wasn’t until years later that the connection resurfaced in a surreal way. “About four years after Chris died, I was taking my kids to see a movie in Fairfield, Connecticut. I spotted a cardboard standee of Shrek and did a double-take, wondering, ‘Is that the movie Chris was talking about?’ My brothers Johnny and Kevin confirmed it was.”
Tom also revealed that the studio had reached out to the family following Chris’s death, exploring the possibility of having Kevin Farley finish the voiceover work, as Chris had already completed nearly 90 percent of his lines. Ultimately, the family decided against it. “Kevin felt it would be too intrusive, too ‘creepy’ to step into Chris’s performance so soon after his passing,” Tom explains.
While the leaked animatics and screen tests circulating online offer only a glimpse into Farley’s take, they reveal a performance that was distinct from the one audiences eventually embraced. Farley’s Shrek felt more vulnerable and grounded.
“It was distinctly Chris,” says Tom. “He was known for being loud and intense, but he possessed a deep, soulful sensitivity. He wanted to showcase that emotional depth—much like those quiet, heartfelt scenes in Tommy Boy. He had so much raw vulnerability that he never got the chance to fully share, and I believe he would have channeled that into Shrek.”
Ultimately, the most significant difference lies in Farley’s approach to acting. “Every character Chris played was an extension of his own spirit,” Tom reflects. “He didn’t hide behind masks or affectations; he started with himself and added layers to define the role. Even in an animated world, seeing a character voiced by Chris meant you were really seeing Chris. That’s why his work still resonates with so many of us today.”
Source: Polygon
