Will there be a ‘Shrek 5’?

Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri says that ‘Shrek’ fans can expect a new edition to the franchise — this time focusing on Donkey.

Illumination currently has several projects in the works, including sequels to ‘Sing’, ‘Despicable Me’, and ‘Secret Life of Pets’, and new project ‘Migration’.

Fans can expect ‘Shrek 5′

Meledandri, who is a creative partner for DreamWorks Animation ‘Shrek’, told Variety in an interview that the team is keen to add to the franchise with ‘Shrek 5′.

“It’s not that dissimilar to the process that we went through with ‘Mario’, where you look at what the core elements are that audiences have loved, and you do your very best to honor those core elements,” the Illumination founder said.

“And then you’re hard at work to build story elements and new characters that take you to brand new places. The original cast is a huge part of that.”

Will ‘Shrek 5′ have the original cast?

Meledandri said the team’s main goal is to bring back the original cast, including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy.

“We anticipate the cast coming back,” he continued. “Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”

Meledandri had read comments made by Murphy earlier in 2023, where the actor said he was keen to reprise his role as Donkey for another ‘Shrek’ movie. The CEO said he was “thrilled” to read Murphy’s comments.

“It’s evidence of his strong enthusiasm for a role that he so brilliantly inhabited and really created alongside the artists at DreamWorks,” Meledandri said. “I found that comment to be very exciting.”

He elaborated that the character of Donkey was strong enough to support its own movie.

“Without question,” he emphasized.

Eddie Murphy is very excited

The ‘Shrek’ franchise has started doing spin-off movies based on characters from the popular family movies. The 2022 ‘Shrek’ spinoff sequel ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ was very successful, and the next spin-off is set to focus on Donkey, played by Murphy.

In January 2023, Murphy declared that he would love to reprise his loveable character as Shrek’s sidekick again.

“If [DreamWorks] ever came with another ‘Shrek,’ I’d do it in two seconds,” Murphy said. “I love Donkey. They did ‘Puss in Boots’ movies.

“I was like, ‘They should have done a Donkey movie.’ Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots. I mean, I love Puss in Boots, but he ain’t funny as the Donkey.”