'Shrek 5' Release Postponed, Swapping Dates with 'Minions 3' for SEO Impact

Universal Pictures shuffles its release schedule, pushing back Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, while Minions 3, a Despicable Me spin-off, retains its original July 1, 2026 premiere.

Variety reports that this shift aligns Minions 3 with the traditional Independence Day box office success enjoyed by the Despicable Me franchise. Shrek 5, marking the franchise's return after a 16-year hiatus, now aims for the lucrative holiday season of 2026.

Initially announced in 2016, the sequel remained largely dormant until 2023 when Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri confirmed its development, hinting at a potential Donkey spin-off.

Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, further substantiated the project's progress in 2024, stating that recording for Shrek 5 had commenced and that a Donkey solo film was also in the works. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," he confirmed. "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 25th anniversary of the original Shrek film, which debuted in 2001. This was followed by Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010).

The Puss in Boots spin-offs have also proven successful, with the first installment released in 2011 and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. IGN awarded The Last Wish a 9/10, praising its "stunning animation" and "poignant, surprisingly mature story," calling it "the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."