Shrek 5 announced after 16-year break as iconic film returns with original cast

Shrek is set to return for a fifth film starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, DreamWorks Animation has now announced.

It will mark 16 years since the last sequel was released, and 25 years since the original premiered. Shrek first premiered in 2001, while the second was released in 2004, the third in 2007 and Shrek Forever After was released in 2010.

"Not too Far, Far Away... @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz," the Universal Pictures studio said on X.

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The announcement went down well with fans, with one replying to the studio's tweet: "A generation of adults have been waiting for this announcement." Another said: "i'm seated. the theatre employees are scared and asking me to leave because 'the movie doesn't exist yet' but i'm simply too seated.

The announcement from Universal Pictures comes just days on from Eddie Murphy, who famously voices Donkey, letting slip a fifth offering from the Shrek franchise was on its way to the big screen.

Speaking to Collider, he said: "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago. I recorded the first act and we'll be doing it this year, we'll finish it up. Donkey's gonna have his own movie. We're gonna do Donkey as well. We're doing a Donkey one next."

Chris Meledandri, an animation bigwig, also hinted at the original return, saying: "We anticipate the cast coming back. Talks are starting now, and every indication that we've gotten is there's tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return." And he was correct!

Mike Myers, the man behind Shrek's iconic and recognisable voice, made no secret of the fact he was up for another