Shrek 5 Delayed as It Swaps Release Dates With Minions 3

Universal Pictures has shifted its animated release schedule, pushing Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, while slotting Minions 3—the upcoming sequel in the Despicable Me spin-off series—into the original Shrek date of July 1, 2026. As reported by Variety, this move keeps with the franchise's tradition of launching during the Independence Day box office window.

Shrek 5 will now aim for the 2026 holiday season, marking the first mainline installment in the beloved franchise in over 16 years. Initially announced in 2016, the film remained in development limbo until Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri confirmed its return to active development in 2023, along with plans for a Donkey spin-off.

Eddie Murphy, the voice behind Donkey, reaffirmed the project’s momentum a year later, revealing that recording had already begun. "We started doing [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."

The release of Shrek 5 will coincide with the franchise’s 25th anniversary, celebrating the original film’s 2001 debut. The series continued with Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010). Meanwhile, the Puss in Boots character has also spawned two successful spin-offs—the first in 2011 and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received widespread acclaim, earning a 9/10 from IGN. "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," the review noted.