Shrek 5 Postponed to 2026, Swaps Release with Minions 3

Universal Pictures has pushed back Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, while moving Minions 3, a Despicable Me spin-off, into its former slot.

According to Variety, Minions 3 will now hit theaters on July 1, 2026, aligning with the Despicable Me series’ tradition of capitalizing on the Independence Day box office. Shrek 5, in contrast, will aim for the 2026 holiday season, marking the franchise’s first mainline release in 16 years.

Initially revealed in 2016, the sequel faced years of silence until Illumination’s CEO, Chris Meledandri, confirmed its active development in 2023, alongside plans for a potential Donkey spin-off.

Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, reaffirmed the project’s progress a year later, sparking excitement for both Shrek 5 and a Donkey-focused film. “We began working on [Shrek 5] months ago,” he shared. “I’ve recorded the first act, and we’ll wrap it up this year. Shrek is on its way, and Donkey will get his own movie too.”

When Shrek 5 arrives, it will mark the 25th anniversary of the Shrek franchise, which began in 2001. The series continued with Shrek 2 in 2004, Shrek the Third in 2007, and Shrek Forever After in 2010.

The Puss in Boots character has also starred in two spin-offs, with the first released in 2011 and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. The latter earned widespread praise, including a 9/10 from IGN, which described it as “a stunningly animated, surprisingly mature story delivering the Shrek franchise’s unexpected answer to Logan.”