Shrek 5, produced by DreamWorks Animation, has been moved from its original date of July 1, 2026, to Wednesday, December 23, 2026. Meanwhile, Illumination's Minions 3 will now take the summer 2026 slot, shifting from it's previously scheduled release on June 30, 2027.
In addition, Universal has rescheduled an untitled Illumination event film, moving it from March 19, 2027, to the June 2026 timeframe.
Although December 2026 may seem distant, Shrek 5 will coincide with the franchise's 25th anniversary and will see the return of original voice actors Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona. Since the release of the first Shrek in 2001, which won the inaugural Oscar for Best Animated Feature, the series has grossed over $2.9 billion globally. It has also inspired a live touring show, an award-winning Broadway musical with eight Tony nominations and 12 Drama Desk nominations, as well as attractions in London and various Universal Studios Parks.
Shrek 5 will be directed by franchise veterans Walt Dohrn, who has contributed to the second, third, and fourth films, and Conrad Vernon, who directed Shrek 2 and Madagascar 2 and voices the Gingerbread Man, also known as Gingy. Producing the film will be Gina Shay, who produced Shrek Forever After and the Trolls movies, alongside Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri, an Academy Award nominee known for the Despicable Me and Minions franchises, as well as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Sing, and Secret Life of Pets. Co-directing will be Brad Ableson, known for Minions: The Rise of Gru and The Simpsons.
On the other hand, Minions 3 follows the massive success of Despicable Me 4, which debuted to 5 billion globally.
Minions 3 is penned by Brian Lynch, who has worked on Minions and The Secret Life of Pets films, and will be directed by Academy Award nominee Pierre Coffin, who directed the first three Despicable Me films and the original Minions. Coffin has also lent his voice to the Minions since their cinematic debut in 2010. The film will be produced by Meledandri and Bill Ryan, the executive producer of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
