Universal Pictures has delayed Shrek 5 by a few months to December 23, 2026 while putting Despicable 3 spin-off Minions 3 in its original slot.
As reported by Variety, Minions 3 will therefore now arrive on July 1, 2026, keeping up the tradition of Despicable Me films enjoying the Independence Day box office. Shrek 5, meanwhile, will target the 2026 holiday period for its first mainline release in 16 years.
The sequel was originally announced in 2016 but went quiet for years until Chris Meledandri, CEO of animation studio Illumination, announced its active development in 2023 alongside hopes for a Donkey spin-off.
Donkey actor Eddie Murphy confirmed the film was still moving ahead a year later and breathed more life into the Donkey spin-off. “We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago,” he said. “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 Shrek franchise will celebrate its 25th anniversary when Shrek 5 arrives, as the original came out in 2001. It was followed by sequels Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After in 2004, 2007, and 2010 respectively.
Puss in Boots has enjoyed two spin-offs itself too, with the first arriving in 2011 and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish arriving in 2022. This latter film arrived to stellar reviews, earning a 9/10 from IGN. “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,” we said.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
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