Shrek 5 Release Delayed, Swaps Dates with Minions 3

Universal Pictures has announced a reshuffling of release dates for two of its major animated films. Shrek 5, originally slated for an earlier release, has been postponed to December 23, 2026. This move positions the film to capitalize on the holiday season, marking its first mainline release in 16 years.

In its place, the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, will now hit theaters on July 1, 2026. This scheduling aligns with the tradition of Despicable Me films premiering around Independence Day, a period known for strong box office performance.

The development of Shrek 5 has been a long journey, with the project first announced back in 2016. It wasn't until 2023 that Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed active development and expressed interest in a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, provided an update in the following year, 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 the Puss in Boots series, which has seen two successful 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 widespread acclaim, earning 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."