Universal Pictures has recently announced a shift in their release schedule, moving Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, and placing the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, in its former slot on July 1, 2026. This strategic move aligns Minions 3 with the lucrative Independence Day box office, a tradition upheld by the Despicable Me series. Meanwhile, Shrek 5 is set to capitalize on the holiday season, marking its first mainline release in 16 years.

The journey to Shrek 5 began with its announcement in 2016, but it wasn't until 2023 that Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development. Alongside Shrek 5, there are plans for a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, has been actively involved, 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. The series continued with Shrek 2 in 2004, Shrek the Third in 2007, and Shrek Forever After in 2010.

Additionally, the Shrek universe has expanded with the Puss in Boots spin-offs. The first Puss in Boots film was released in 2011, followed by Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received exceptional reviews, scoring a 9/10 from IGN, which praised it as "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."