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

Universal Pictures has made strategic adjustments to its release schedule, pushing back Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, and moving the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, into Shrek 5's original slot. According to Variety, Minions 3 will now hit theaters on July 1, 2026, aligning with the lucrative Independence Day box office that the Despicable Me series traditionally targets. Meanwhile, Shrek 5 is set to capitalize on the holiday season of 2026, marking its first mainline entry in 16 years.

The journey of Shrek 5 began with its announcement in 2016, but it wasn't until 2023 that significant progress was shared by Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, who confirmed active development alongside plans for a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, the voice behind Donkey, further fueled excitement by confirming ongoing production. "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago," Murphy 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."

Shrek 5's release will coincide with the franchise's 25th anniversary, following the original Shrek's debut in 2001. The series continued with Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After in 2004, 2007, and 2010, respectively.

The Shrek universe has also expanded with the Puss in Boots spin-offs, the first released in 2011 and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter received a glowing 9/10 from IGN, praised for its stunning animation and mature storytelling, described as "the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."