Eddie Murphy has confirmed that a fifth installment in the Shrek franchise is indeed moving forward, following rumors suggesting the project has been in development for several years.
Many among today’s market may be too young to recall, but back when the Shrek franchise dominated the world of animation, it held the top spot. Currently, this beloved franchise stands as the second-highest-grossing animated series in history, surpassing numerous Disney film franchises with a significant margin. While the 2022 spin-off film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was a pleasant surprise, it’s been over a decade since the release of Shrek Forever After in 2010, leaving fans eagerly awaiting a new installment in the beloved franchise. Reports indicate that the franchise is poised for change, but a recent interview with Collider offers a surprising twist: Eddie Murphy, the voice behind Donkey, revealed that he has already recorded vocals for Shrek 5, which is slated for release next year.
The actor recalled that they started working on Shrek five months earlier. “I’ve got that under control; I captured the main event, and we’ll wrap it up within the next 12 months. That’s settled,” he said before revealing additional Shrek-related news: “A new Shrek installment is on the way, and Donkey will even have his own film.” We’re going to execute Donkey’s performance with maximum efficiency. The notion of producing a film centered around the wisecracking, fast-talking Donkey from the Shrek franchise takes shape, with the eccentric character set to star in a standalone feature that promises to bring his unique personality to the forefront. Given Murphy’s initial suggestion, perhaps his influence contributed to the film’s creation.
According to Murphy, his focus is not simultaneously dedicated to all these tasks, as he clarified, “No, not at the same time.” As we’re poised to release Shrek in 2025, the next logical step is a Donkey-centric film, potentially sparking another surge of enthusiasm for the beloved franchise. I am confident that you will successfully overcome this challenge.
