"Shrek 5" Release Date Delayed to Summer 2027

"Shrek 5" fans will have to wait a little longer as Universal and DreamWorks Animation have announced a new release date: June 30, 2027. Initially scheduled for July 2026 and subsequently for December 2026, this marks the second time the fifth installment of the "Shrek" franchise has been rescheduled. Although no specific reason was given for the delay, it should be noted that Universal has seen significant success with summer releases of animated movies, such as the "Despicable Me" series and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie".

On this revised release timeline, "Shrek 5" is set to hit theaters less than a week after Sony's animated "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse". In its earlier December 2026 slot, the family film was positioned to follow the releases of Disney’s "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Ice Age 6".

This rescheduling also impacted Illumination’s Untitled Event Film, whose premiere has been moved forward to April 16, 2027, from its original late June date. Familiar faces like Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz will be reprising their roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona respectively, with Zendaya joining the cast. Franchise veterans Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn are set to direct "Shrek 5".

The fifth "Shrek" installment will be released a full quarter-century after the original 2001 animated blockbuster, which redefined the idea of "happily ever after" through the eyes of a misunderstood ogre and his motley crew of fairytale characters. With global earnings of nearly $500 million and the distinction of being the first-ever Oscar winner for animated feature, the original "Shrek" film was followed by three sequels and two "Puss in Boots" spinoffs.