‘Donkey’ spin-off movie announced: Eddie Murphy returns in Shrek universe expansion

Eddie Murphy will return to voice Donkey in… ‘Donkey,’ a new spin-off set within the Shrek universe. DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures have confirmed that the project will focus on the origins of Shrek’s talkative companion and is scheduled to hit theaters on June 30, 2028—exactly one year after the release of Shrek 5.

Donkey has been a constant presence throughout the franchise since the original ‘Shrek’ premiered in 2001, becoming one of its most popular characters. The spin-off aims to explore how the character came to be, expanding on his background.

The film will be directed by Charlie Bean, whose previous work includes ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ and Disney’s live-action ‘Lady and the Tramp.’ He will be joined by co-director Matt Flynn, who has contributed to recent DreamWorks productions such as ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ and ‘The Wild Robot.’ Production duties will be handled by Rebecca Huntley, most recently associated with Kung Fu Panda 4.

A broader return to Far, Far Away

The announcement of ‘Donkey’ is part of a larger revival of the franchise. Before the spin-off arrives, DreamWorks and Universal will release ‘Shrek 5’ on June 30, 2027, marking the first mainline entry in the series in more than a decade. The film will reunite the original cast, including Mike Myers, Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, with Zendaya confirmed as a new addition to the ensemble.

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Directed by franchise veterans Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn, ‘Shrek 5′ is positioned as the starting point for a new phase of stories set in Far, Far Away. With the main films and the ‘Puss in Boots’ spin-offs having generated more than $3 billion worldwide, DreamWorks appears intent on expanding the universe while revisiting its most familiar characters.

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