Shrek 5 Release Swapped with Minions 3

Universal Pictures has shifted the release date of Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, moving it from its initial slot. In its place, the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, will now premiere on July 1, 2026, continuing the franchise's tradition of capitalizing on the lucrative Independence Day box office. Shrek 5 aims to make the most of the 2026 holiday season, marking the first mainline release in the series in 16 years.

First announced in 2016, Shrek 5 saw a quiet period until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its ongoing development. Alongside Shrek 5, there's buzz about a potential Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, the voice behind Donkey, has reassured fans that not only is Shrek 5 in progress, but he has already recorded the first act. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," he 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 film debuted in 2001. It was followed by Shrek 2 in 2004, Shrek the Third in 2007, and Shrek Forever After in 2010. The Puss in Boots character has also seen success with two spin-offs; the first premiered in 2011, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish released in 2022 to critical acclaim, scoring a 9/10 from IGN. We described it as, "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."