Washington: Directed by Walt Dohrn, known for his contributions to the ‘Shrek’ universe including ‘Shrek 2’ and ‘Shrek the Third’, and produced by Gina Shay and Chris Meledandri, ‘Shrek 5’ promises to continue the beloved saga that began with the original 2001 film, according to Variety.
This installment is expected to give a fitting continuation and closure to the series.
The announcement was shared on the official X handle of DreamWorks Animation.
According to Variety, Eddie Murphy inadvertently revealed in June that he had begun recording dialogue for the film and hinted at a spinoff centered on his character Donkey.
“We started to do [‘Shrek 5’] “I did it several months ago. I recorded the first part and we’ll do it this year, we’ll finish it. ‘Shrek’ is about to come out and Donkey has his own movie coming out,” Murphy said.
The “Shrek” franchise, which debuted in 2001 to surprise box office success, has since become a cultural phenomenon, earning numerous awards including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for its first film.
With upcoming series such as ‘Shrek 2’, which reportedly grossed nearly US$1 billion worldwide, the series remains a mainstay of animated entertainment.
Chris Meledandri, who is overseeing the franchise’s revival at Universal Pictures, stressed the importance of retaining the original voice cast, which he cited as integral to the series’ charm and success.
According to Variety, Meledandri said in an interview, “The challenge for us has been to find something that really feels like it’s not just another film in a series of sequels.”
The announcement of ‘Shrek 5’ comes amid the continued popularity of the franchise’s spinoff ‘Puss in Boots’, with recent entries such as ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ receiving both critical acclaim and box office success.
Reportedly, negotiations are currently underway to finalize deals with the returning cast, ensuring that fans can look forward to hearing the familiar voices of Myers, Murphy, and Diaz bring their beloved characters to life once again.
