DreamWorks released the first Shrek 5 teaser trailer, reuniting Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz alongside newcomer Zendaya. The film arrives in theatres on June 30, 2027.
DreamWorks Animation released the first teaser trailer for Shrek 5 on June 16, 2026, marking the franchise’s return after a 16-year gap since Shrek Forever After in 2010. The film hits theatres worldwide on June 30, 2027. With a franchise that has grossed over $4 billion at the global box office across six films, the stakes for this sequel are enormous.
What Does the Teaser Trailer Show?
The trailer opens with a storybook recap of the original 2001 film before Donkey breaks in to announce it is time for a “makeover.” This moment serves as a deliberate acknowledgment of the franchise’s updated animation style. From there, the footage shows Shrek, Fiona, their kids, and Donkey heading into a new location called Further Further Away, a sprawling, chaotic city that replaces the fairy-tale kingdom setting of earlier films.
Key scenes include a sinister snowman parody of Frozen’s Olaf asking “Wanna date a snowman?”, the Gingerbread Man proudly declaring he is “caked up like a friggin’ bakery” while showing off gumdrop buttons on his backside, and a closing shot of the entire group crammed into a jail cell. Donkey serenades an irritated Shrek with “Baby Come Back” and “Roxanne” while behind bars, confirming that the franchise’s core comedic dynamic remains fully intact.
Who Is in the Cast?
Mike Myers returns as Shrek, Eddie Murphy reprises Donkey, and Cameron Diaz is back as Princess Fiona. The biggest casting announcement is Zendaya voicing Felicia, Shrek and Fiona’s daughter. Marcello Hernandez (Saturday Night Live) voices their son Fergus, and Skyler Gisondo (Superman) voices Farkle. Conrad Vernon continues voicing the Gingerbread Man, as he has done across every franchise entry.
Notably absent from the cast announcements is Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots. Despite the massive success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), which earned $482 million worldwide, there has been no confirmation that the character will appear in Shrek 5.
Further Further Away: A New World for the Franchise
While Far Far Away served as a fairy-tale monarchy ripe for satire in earlier films, Further Further Away appears to be a grittier, more urban environment. The trailer shows towering law enforcers, back-alley snowmen, and a jail sequence that suggests the family gets into serious trouble in this unfamiliar city. DreamWorks has kept specific plot details under wraps, but the footage implies a high-speed chase and eventual arrest.
One detail that has fuelled fan speculation: Felicia does not appear in the trailer despite being a confirmed cast member. Only Fergus and Farkle are visible in the jail cell alongside Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey. This has led to theories that the family’s journey to Further Further Away may be connected to finding or rescuing Felicia.
The Animation Controversy
The trailer’s most divisive element is the updated animation style. Characters feature more rounded shapes, bigger eyes, and smoother textures compared to the franchise’s original look. DreamWorks has essentially rebuilt the character models for a 2026 standard, updating skin textures, lighting, and facial expressiveness. The studio’s YouTube upload even had comments turned off, with the trailer receiving notably more dislikes than likes in its early hours.
Critics on social media called the new designs “AI-generated” and compared them unfavourably to Illumination’s smoother house style. The hashtag #NotMyShrek trended, with some fans referencing how Paramount redesigned Sonic the Hedgehog after similar backlash. However, supporters argue that after 25 years the visual refresh is necessary, and point out that the characters’ facial expressions are significantly more detailed and expressive than anything in the original films.
A previous first-look teaser in February 2025 had already sparked similar debates about the character redesigns, particularly around Donkey’s sleeker appearance and Shrek’s rounder features. The June 2026 trailer shows the animation has been further refined since that initial reveal, but the core design direction remains the same.
Directors and Production History
Shrek 5 is directed by Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn, with Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Simpsons) co-directing. Vernon co-directed Shrek 2 and has voiced the Gingerbread Man throughout the series. Dohrn worked on the writing teams of Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third and voiced Rumpelstiltskin in Shrek Forever After. The screenplay comes from Michael McCullers, with Chris Meledandri and Gina Shay producing.
The film’s journey to release has been far from smooth. Originally announced for July 1, 2026, it was pushed to December 23, 2026, then delayed again to June 30, 2027. The final date avoids a crowded December corridor that would have included Dune Part Three, Avengers: Doomsday, and the next Jumanji film.
A Donkey Spinoff Is Also Coming
Eddie Murphy confirmed that a standalone Donkey movie is in production alongside Shrek 5. In interviews at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2025, Murphy explained that the spinoff follows the model of the Puss in Boots films, giving Donkey his own story featuring his dragon wife and their half-donkey, half-dragon children. Murphy described the script as “funny” and confirmed that voice recording for the spinoff was set to begin once Shrek 5 production wrapped.
Murphy has been vocal about wanting a Donkey solo film for years, previously telling ETalk that “Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots.” The spinoff does not yet have a confirmed release date, but Murphy estimated it would arrive roughly three years after Shrek 5.
Box Office Legacy and What to Expect
The Shrek franchise is the second highest-grossing animated film series of all time, trailing only Despicable Me. The original Shrek (2001) earned $489 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. Shrek 2 (2004) remains the franchise peak at $932 million globally, making it the highest-grossing film of that year. Across all six theatrical releases, the franchise has generated over $4 billion in worldwide box office revenue and an additional $2 billion in home video sales.
Universal’s casting strategy for Shrek 5 targets two generations simultaneously. The returning original trio of Myers, Murphy, and Diaz locks in Millennial audiences who grew up with the franchise, while Zendaya and the younger cast members appeal directly to Gen Z viewers. Despite the animation backlash, industry expectations remain high for the film’s opening weekend.
Things Worth Knowing Before 2027
When exactly does Shrek 5 release?
Shrek 5 arrives exclusively in theatres on June 30, 2027 in the United States. European release dates are expected around the same window but have not been individually confirmed.
Will Shrek 5 stream on any platform?
Following its theatrical window, Shrek 5 is expected to stream on Peacock in the US. International streaming availability has not been announced. The film will not be a Netflix release.
Is Puss in Boots in the movie?
As of June 2026, Antonio Banderas has not been confirmed as part of the Shrek 5 cast. Given the success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, his absence from announcements is notable. Whether Puss appears in a cameo or post-credits scene remains unknown.
What is the plot about?
DreamWorks has not released an official synopsis. From the trailer, the story involves Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and two of their three children travelling to a new city called Further Further Away, where they encounter trouble and end up in jail. Felicia’s absence from the footage suggests she may be central to the plot’s driving conflict.
Why does the animation look different?
DreamWorks rebuilt the character models with updated rendering technology, resulting in smoother textures, more detailed lighting, and more expressive faces. The change reflects 25 years of animation advancement since the original film, though it has proven polarising among longtime fans.
