Shrek 5 Release Delayed, Swaps Dates with Minions 3

Universal Pictures has announced a strategic shift in its release schedule, pushing back the highly anticipated Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, to capitalize on the lucrative holiday season. Originally slated for an earlier date, Shrek 5 will now occupy a slot that promises to draw large audiences during the festive period. This move marks the first mainline Shrek movie in 16 years, creating significant buzz among fans of the beloved franchise.

In a corresponding adjustment, the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, will take over Shrek 5's initial release date, hitting theaters on July 1, 2026. This decision aligns with the tradition of Despicable Me films dominating the Independence Day box office, ensuring continued success for the franchise.

The journey to Shrek 5 has been long, with the project first announced in 2016. It wasn't until 2023 that Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed the film's active development alongside plans for a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, the voice behind Donkey, further fueled excitement by revealing that production had begun months ago. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," Murphy 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 Shrek debuted in 2001. Subsequent sequels, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After, followed in 2004, 2007, and 2010, respectively, each adding to the franchise's storied legacy.

The Shrek universe has expanded beyond the main series with the successful Puss in Boots spin-offs. The first Puss in Boots film was released in 2011, and its sequel, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, arrived in 2022 to critical acclaim. IGN praised the latter with a 9/10 rating, describing 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."