Shrek 5 and Donkey Spinoff in Development, Eddie Murphy Confirms
Shrek 5 and a Donkey spinoff are in the works, with Shrek 5 already in production for several months. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, expects Shrek 5 to release in 2025, followed by Donkey's movie. Both films aim to revitalize the franchise, which saw its last main entry with Shrek Forever After in 2010.
Murphy, speaking with Collider, confirmed the active development of both Shrek 5 and the Donkey spinoff. He mentioned that Shrek 5 began filming "months ago" and that the Donkey movie will follow. Murphy's full quote reveals his excitement:
"We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago. 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. So we're gonna do a Shrek, and we're doing a Donkey [movie]. [...] No, not at the same time. I started recording Shrek, I think it's coming out in 2025, and we're doing a Donkey one next."
Will Shrek 5 & The Donkey Spinoff Be Successful?
The recent success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which received a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, sets a high bar for the upcoming films. The Shrek franchise, which struggled with Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After, saw a resurgence with this well-received spinoff.
| Film | RT Critics Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
| Shrek (2001) | 88% | 90% |
| Shrek 2 (2004) | 89% | 69% |
| Shrek the Third (2007) | 42% | 52% |
| Shrek Forever After (2010) | 57% | 54% |
| Puss in Boots (2011) | 86% | 68% |
| Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) | 95% | 94% |
The Donkey spinoff is not the first time Shrek has expanded its universe. Puss in Boots, another successful spinoff, laid the groundwork for this kind of storytelling. While Puss in Boots: The Last Wish tackled serious themes, the Donkey movie is expected to be more lighthearted.
Both Shrek 5 and the Donkey spinoff carry the challenge of reviving the franchise. The success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish shows that the Shrek universe still has the potential to captivate audiences. With Shrek 5 likely releasing next year, fans won't have to wait long to see if these new films can recapture the magic of the original series.