We have the ability to contain our excitement for Shrek news — what we lack is the capacity! It’s been 14 long years since Shrek Forever After closed the fairytale book on DreamWorks’ beloved green-eared franchise, but now — coming off the back of the astonishingly great Puss In Boots: The Last Wish — the animation studio’s long-gestating fivequel has set a release date. As reported by THR (and posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, by DreamWorks themselves), Shrek 5 is set to hit cinemas on 1 July, 2026, coinciding with the first film’s anniversary. And better yet, the original quadrilogy’s All Star cast — Mike Myers! Cameron Diaz! Eddie Murphy! — are back back back, too.
Plot details for this one are currently under wraps (presumably in the highest room of the tallest tower), but Puss In Boots: The Last Wish *did* end with the swashbuckling Spanish kitty setting sail for Far, Far Away, so don’t be surprised if Antonio Banderas’ name gets added to the cast list sometime soon. What we do know for now however is that the film is coming to us from co-directors Walt Dohrn and Brad Ableson. Dohrn served as a writer on Shrek 2 and Shrek The Third before taking on Head of Story duties for Shrek Forever After, whilst Ableson most recently co-directed the low-key Illumination banger Minions: The Rise Of Gru. Check out the first poster for our return to the swamp below:
Also aboard Shrek 5 (5hrek, anyone?) in a producer capacity are Shrek Forever After’s Gina Shay and Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri. Whilst that 1 July, 2026 release date feels Far, Far Away right now, after a Shrekless near decade-and-a-half just you wait and see — the years start coming and they don't stop coming. As for whether Shrek 5 will hit the ground running however, only time will tell.