Animated sequels are in a fierce race for attention this summer, and DreamWorks just made its loudest play yet with the first official teaser trailer for "Shrek 5."
DreamWorks and Universal Pictures dropped the trailer on June 16, with just over a year to go before the film arrives in theaters. The movie is set for a June 30, 2027 release. That timeline marks a full 17 years since the franchise's last mainline entry, "Shrek Forever After," which opened back in 2010.
The trailer opens with a storybook recapping the original tale of Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey from the 2001 movie. Illustrations pay homage to William Steig's original book before transitioning to footage that suggests a much bigger adventure. Shrek, his kids, and Donkey head to the kingdom of Further Further Away. True to form, the franchise wastes no time skewering competitors. The crew encounters a creepy snowman that's a clear parody of Olaf from "Frozen."
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all return as the voices of Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona. Series newcomers include Zendaya as Shrek and Fiona's daughter Felicia, and Marcello Hernandez and Skyler Gisondo as Felicia's brothers Fergus and Farkle. Those three characters were first introduced as triplets in "Shrek the Third," now aged into teenagers for this installment.
Behind the camera, the film leans on franchise veterans. The movie is being directed by Conrad Vernon, a co-director on "Shrek 2" and voice of the Gingerbread Man, and Walt Dohrn, who served as head of story and voice of Rumpelstiltskin for "Shrek Forever After." Brad Ableson, known for "Minions: The Rise of Gru," co-directs. Michael McCullers wrote the screenplay. Returning producer Gina Shay is joined by Illumination CEO and Academy Award nominee Chris Meledandri.
Getting here was not a straight path. This is the second release date delay for the film, which was originally set for July 2026. Universal postponed it from December 23, 2026, to its current summer 2027 slot. Meledandri has spoken openly about the pressure of returning to this world. In a 2018 conversation with Variety, he acknowledged the balancing act of nostalgia and reinvention, noting that "the challenge for us has been to find something that really does feel like it's not simply yet another film in a series of sequels."
Updated character designs drew some controversy when a brief cast announcement teaser surfaced in February 2025, with fans pointing to bigger, more cartoonish eyes and smoother textures. DreamWorks has clearly stuck with those choices in the new trailer, confirming the more stylized look is here to stay.
The four previous "Shrek" films earned more than $2.9 billion worldwide, spawning a global live-touring show and an award-winning Broadway musical. The original 2001 film also became the first-ever Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature. With "Toy Story 5" arriving from Pixar this same season, the animated landscape in 2027 looks as competitive as it has been in years. A standalone Donkey spinoff is also officially greenlit and will begin production after "Shrek 5" wraps.
Far Far Away's finest are heading back to the big screen. Whether or not the new look wins over skeptics, the franchise clearly has no plans to play it safe.
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