Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5 will now open on Wednesday, December 23, 2026, instead of July 1 next year.
At the same time, the studio said Friday it is moving up Illumination’s Minions 3 from June 30, 2027 to Shrek 5‘s previous July 2026 date. That’s because the Minions and Gru have ruled the Independence Day frame for quite some time, most recently with Despicable Me 4 minting a $230M global opening last summer.
Another shift going on at Universal: an untitled Illumination event movie will move from March 19, 2027 to Wednesday June 30, 2027.
Shrek 5 is timed to DWA’s 25th anniversary. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz as reported are reprising their roles as Shrek, Donkey and Fiona, respectively. Directors are Shrek franchise veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon. Dohrn (Trolls franchise) worked on the second and third Shrek films as a writer and artist and as Head of Story on the fourth film. He also voiced the character of Rumpelstilskin in Shrek Forever After.
Vernon served as director of Shrek 2, Madagascar 2 and is the voice of Gingerbread Man (aka Gingy).
Pic is produced by returning producer Gina Shay (Trolls franchise), who produced Shrek Forever After, and by Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri (Despicable Me and Minions franchise, Super Mario Bros. Movie, Sing and Secret Life of Pets films). The film will be co-directed by Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Simpsons).
The four Shrek movies have grossed more than $2.9 billion worldwide and spawned a global live-touring show, an award-winning Broadway musical that earned eight Tony nominations and 12 Drama Desk nominations, plus an immersive, top-tourist destination in London and a popular events and attractions across Universal Studios Parks worldwide.
Minions 3 is penned by Brian Lynch (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets films) and directed by Oscar nominee Pierre Coffin, a director of the first three Despicable Me films and the first Minions film. Coffin has also provided the voice for the Minions since their film debut in 2010. The threequel is produced by Meledandri and by Bill Ryan (executive producer, Super Mario Bros. Movie).
Illumination’s Despicable Me and Minions movies count north of $5 billion around the world.