Alright, let's talk Shrek. Yeah, I know, another one. But stick with me here, because what Eddie Murphy is cooking up might just be… interesting. Not that I'm easily impressed, mind you. After all, I've sat through enough CGI-animated sequels to know that most of them are about as fresh as yesterday's waffle. Still, there's something about the news straight from Murphy himself, while he was out promoting his new film The Pickup, that snagged my attention. He's not just talking Shrek 5; he's teasing a whole separate Donkey movie spinoff. And, honestly, my cynicism is battling my inner fanboy. It's a messy internal dialogue, believe me.
The Return to Far Far Away (Again)
So, Shrek 5 is happening. We knew that. It's been whispered about in the hallowed halls of Hollywood for a while, like a persistent earworm. But Murphy, bless his candid heart, actually dropped a date: December 23, 2026. Mark your calendars, I guess. He told ScreenRant they're “still in the booth, and literally, we're still doing Shrek.” Still in the booth, huh? One imagines a slightly exhausted Eddie, cracking wise between takes, probably wondering if he's ever going to escape the vocal cords of a talking donkey. And then there's the cast, the usual suspects: Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz back as Fiona. But here's a new wrinkle, one that actually sparks a little curiosity: Zendaya is apparently joining as Shrek and Fiona's daughter. That's… a choice. A potentially inspired choice, or a sign they're just trying to inject some Gen Z appeal into an aging franchise. Time will tell, won't it?
Donkey Gets His Due (Or Does He?)
Now, the real meat of the matter, the thing that made me pause mid-coffee: a Donkey movie spinoff. Like Puss in Boots had his own movie, Murphy explained. “Donkey's going to have his own movie, own little story with his dragon wife and his kids that are half-dragon and half-donkeys,” he revealed. He also mentioned, with that classic Murphy timing, that “They've written this funny story. We're doing that, starting that in September.” September! So, while Shrek 5 is still two years out, this Donkey project is seemingly going to be fast-tracked.
And that's where my brain starts whirring. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was a genuinely surprising, Oscar-nominated hit. It showed that DreamWorks could still deliver something meaningful, something with a bit of grit and genuine heart, rather than just relying on nostalgia. Could a Donkey movie achieve that? Or will it be another cash grab, milking the last vestiges of a beloved character until he's… well, until he's just a donkey?
Donkey is undeniably the breakout star of the Shrek franchise, thanks in no small part to Murphy's unparalleled comedic timing. From the very first film in 2001, based on William Steig‘s 1990 picture book, Donkey was the heart and soul, the motor-mouthed sidekick who often stole the show. Remember his rendition of “I'm a Believer”? Pure gold. But a whole movie? That's a gamble. It needs to be more than just Donkey being Donkey. It needs a compelling story, one that digs into his character beyond the quick laughs. His “dragon wife” and “half-dragon and half-donkeys” kids… it sounds like it could be funny, could be chaotic, could be… a lot. I've seen this before, where a studio takes a beloved side character and expands their world, sometimes to great effect, other times to a resounding “meh.”
A Shrek-sized Legacy and an Uncertain Future
The Shrek franchise, with its original films like Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010), undeniably carved out a significant niche in animated cinema. It was groundbreaking in its subversion of fairy tale tropes, and it hit at just the right time. But audiences are savvier now. They demand more than just rehashing old jokes. This new chapter, with both Shrek 5 and the Donkey movie spinoff, has a lot to prove. Can they capture that magic again, or will it just feel like another calculated move to extract more gold coins from the kingdom of Far Far Away? My gut tells me it's a tightrope walk. But hey, I'm always willing to be surprised.
What do you think? Are you ready for more Donkey antics, or should some fairy tales just stay happily ever after? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to follow us for more updates!
