Shrek 5 Release Delayed, Swaps Dates with Minions 3

Universal Pictures has announced a strategic shift in its release schedule, moving Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, and placing the Despicable Me spin-off Minions 3 in the original slot on July 1, 2026. This adjustment positions Minions 3 to capitalize on the lucrative Independence Day box office, a tradition for the Despicable Me series. Meanwhile, Shrek 5 is set to launch during the 2026 holiday season, marking the first mainline release in the franchise in 16 years.

The development of Shrek 5 was first announced in 2016, but progress was slow until 2023 when Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development alongside plans for a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, provided an update a year later, stating, "We started doing [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."

The release of Shrek 5 will coincide with the franchise's 25th anniversary, as the original Shrek film debuted in 2001. Subsequent sequels, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After, were released in 2004, 2007, and 2010, respectively.

Additionally, the Shrek universe has expanded with two Puss in Boots spin-offs. The first was released in 2011, followed by Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022, which received widespread acclaim, earning a 9/10 from IGN. The review praised the film, stating, "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."