Universal Pictures has shifted the release date of Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, a few months later than initially planned. This move allows Minions 3, a spin-off from the Despicable Me franchise, to retain its original July 1, 2026, release date, capitalizing on the lucrative Independence Day box office.

Variety reports that this scheduling adjustment maintains the Despicable Me series' tradition of summer releases. Shrek 5, conversely, now aims for the competitive holiday season, marking its return after a sixteen-year hiatus.

Initially announced in 2016, the sequel remained largely dormant until 2023, when Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri confirmed its active development, along with hints of a potential Donkey spin-off.

Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, corroborated the project's progress a year later, further fueling speculation about the Donkey spin-off. "We started working on Shrek 5 months ago," Murphy stated. "I've recorded the first act, and we'll be finishing it this year. Shrek is coming out, and Donkey's going to get his own movie. We're doing Donkey as well."

The release of Shrek 5 will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original Shrek film, which premiered in 2001. The franchise continued with Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010).

The Puss in Boots spin-off series has also proven successful, with the first installment in 2011 and the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. IGN awarded the latter a 9/10, praising its "stunning animation" and "poignant, surprisingly mature story," calling it "the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."