Universal Pictures has announced a strategic reshuffling of its release calendar, pushing back the highly anticipated Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, and filling its original slot with the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3. According to Variety, Minions 3 is set to premiere on July 1, 2026, aligning with the tradition of the Despicable Me series capitalizing on the Independence Day box office. This move positions Shrek 5 to capture the holiday audience in 2026, marking the first mainline release in the franchise in 16 years.
The development of Shrek 5 was initially announced back in 2016 but saw little progress until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development alongside plans for a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, provided further updates in the following year, expressing enthusiasm for both projects. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," Murphy stated. "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. Subsequent sequels, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After, were released in 2004, 2007, and 2010, respectively. Additionally, the Puss in Boots character has starred in two successful spin-offs, the first in 2011 and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received a 9/10 from IGN, with the review stating, "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."
By optimizing these release dates, Universal Pictures aims to maximize the box office potential of both Shrek 5 and Minions 3, catering to fans eager for more adventures in these beloved animated universes.
