Shrek 6 Scheduled for Release in 2028

Image: Dreamworks

Following confirmation that Shrek 5 entered production in 2024, fans finally received an official teaser for the next chapter of the iconic animated saga. With a scheduled release of June 30, 2027, the film arrives 17 years after the conclusion of Shrek Forever After. Fortunately, the hiatus for the franchise’s subsequent expansion will be significantly shorter.

Universal Pictures confirmed this Thursday that a solo Donkey film, centered on Eddie Murphy’s beloved sidekick, is slated for 2028, as initially reported by Variety.

Murphy first teased the project during the 2025 press tour for The Pickup. The spinoff will be helmed by director Charlie Bean, known for his work on The Lego Batman Movie and the live-action remake of Lady and the Tramp. He will be joined by co-director Matt Flyn, who contributed to critically acclaimed projects like The Wild Robot and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The production team also features Rebecca Huntley, whose recent portfolio includes Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Bad Guys.

Donkey is positioned as an origin story, peeling back the layers to reveal how our favorite talkative steed became the character we know today. Assuming no production delays, the film is expected to hit theaters on June 30, 2028—exactly one year after Shrek 5. While the Puss in Boots spin-offs have already proven that the franchise can thrive beyond its primary protagonist, Donkey marks the next major test of DreamWorks’ ability to expand this fairytale universe.

Initial reactions to the Shrek 5 announcement were mixed, primarily due to an updated animation aesthetic that struck some viewers as jarring. However, the film boasts a stellar returning cast, including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy. They will be joined by Zendaya, who lends her voice to Felicia, the daughter of Shrek and Fiona—though the casting has already sparked humorous comparisons to the “Zendaya is Meechee” meme from the 2018 film Smallfoot.

Shrek 5 is being led by DreamWorks veterans Walter Dohm and Conrad Vernon, the latter of whom co-directed the fan-favorite Shrek 2. Despite the franchise’s long duration, it has maintained a remarkably high bar for quality, with Shrek Forever After being the only entry that failed to resonate with many critics. Whether these upcoming projects will uphold the series’ legacy remains to be seen, but the anticipation is undoubtedly building.

Source: Polygon