"Shrek 5 Release Postponed, Swaps Dates with Minions 3"

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 original slot. As reported by Variety, Minions 3 will now premiere on July 1, 2026, aligning with the tradition of Despicable Me films capitalizing on the Independence Day box office. Meanwhile, Shrek 5 will aim to capture the holiday audience in 2026, marking the first mainline release in the series in 16 years.

The sequel was first announced back in 2016 but remained dormant for several years until Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active development in 2023. Alongside Shrek 5, Meledandri expressed interest in developing a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, has since confirmed that production on Shrek 5 is well underway. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," he stated. "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."

When Shrek 5 hits theaters, it will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original Shrek film, which debuted in 2001. The franchise has since expanded with sequels: Shrek 2 in 2004, Shrek the Third in 2007, and Shrek Forever After in 2010.

Additionally, the Puss in Boots character has been successful with its own spin-offs. The first Puss in Boots film came out in 2011, followed by Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received exceptional reviews, scoring a 9/10 from IGN. "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," IGN remarked.