Shrek 5 Is Finally Happening After 16 Years & I’m So Relieved

I can finally breathe a sigh of relief—Shrek 5 is officially happening. The last Shrek movie, Shrek Forever After, was released in 2016, and though there had been talk of another sequel even back then, it seemed as if it would never actually happen. Talk and speculation were the extent of it, and I admit, I had begun to give up all hope. However, DreamWorks has finally pulled through, confirming Shrek 5 with a release date and everything.

Shrek got its start with the first film in 2001, and the franchise continued to dominate through the next decade. DreamWorks remained consistent with a new Shrek movie every three years. Shrek 2 hit theaters in 2004, Shrek the Third followed a few years later in 2007, and Shrek Forever After continued the trend by releasing in 2010. Unfortunately, this is where the breaks were put on. DreamWorks hinted that the Shrek franchise would continue, and the cast remained steadfast in their willingness to return. However, the years rolled on with very little word on the subject—until now.

Shrek 5’s Confirmation Ends Any Doubt About The Sequel’s Status

We Have Our Definitive Answer At Long Last

DreamWorks announced Shrek 5 in the best way possible. A short video was posted to the company’s official Twitter account featuring a bouncing, green number five sporting Shrek’s iconic ears, with the song “All-Star” by Smash Mouth, a number heavily associated with the first Shrek movie, playing out over the clip. The post came with the confirmation that Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz would all be returning to take on their beloved roles. Even a release date was included. Shrek 5 is slated to hit theaters July 1, 2026—16 years after Shrek Forever After.

Why Shrek 5 Took So Long To Happen

Shrek 5 Is Arriving 16 Years After Shrek Forever After

By the time Shrek 5 hits theaters, I will have waited 16 years for the sequel. There had consistently been talk of the film, allowing me to maintain a sliver of hope that it would one day happen, but it seems that DreamWorks got stuck with the project in development hell. Of course, the same was true for the spinoff sequel, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The movie had been announced in 2012 but didn’t release until a decade later, in 2022. Once The Last Wish finally made it out to the public, I understood why it had taken so long. The animation was simply stunning.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was surprisingly groundbreaking, featuring the 2.5-D animation style that has since become highly popular. DreamWorks may have been holding off on Shrek 5 until the masterpiece that was the Puss in Boots sequel had time to release and settle. It’s also possible that the studio plans similar innovations for this next installment in the franchise. While 2.5-D animation might not fit with Shrek’s story (it works best with comic-style action sequences), we can likely expect something spectacular in the way of 3D animation or a fully reimagined story.

Waiting For Shrek 5 Only Made Me Want The Sequel More

DreamWorks Is In The Prime Position For A Nostalgic & Triumphant Return To Shrek

It’s also possible that DreamWorks held off on Shrek 5 to build fan anticipation. If this is the case, it certainly worked for me. After all these years, Shrek‘s cult-classic status has only grown, especially as nostalgia for the early 2000s has begun to take over popular culture. When this next installment releases in 2026, it will have been 25 years—a quarter century—since the first movie. For many of us, the music and quotes from Shrek are staples of our childhoods. Today’s young audiences will surely love Shrek 5, but it will mean something different to us Millenials who grew up with Shrek.

It certainly seems that DreamWorks is astutely aware of this. The use of the iconic Smash Mouth song in the Shrek 5 announcement video is a sign that the coming film will be leaning into its roots. I expect nostalgia galore, only increased by the long wait between this film and the previous one. After a 16-year wait, we are geared and ready to hit theaters for what is sure to be something of an reboot rather than a standard sequel. The story might move forward, but the tone of Shrek 5 is sure to take us back to 2001. I can’t deny I’m pretty pumped for it.

Shrek

Based loosely on the children’s book of the same name by William Steig, Shrek tells the story of an ogre (Michael Myers) who sets with his new friend Donkey (Eddie Murphy) out to regain his swamp from fairytale characters. Tasked with rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) in return for the restoration of his solitude, Shrek discovers that he’s not the loner he always thought he was, and that looks aren’t always everything.

Director

Vicky Jenson , Andrew Adamson

Release Date

May 18, 2001

Writers

Ted Elliott , Roger S.H. Schulman , Joe Stillman , Terry Rossio

Runtime

90 minutes

Franchise(s)

Shrek

Budget

$60 million

Expand