DreamWorks is giving one of its most popular animated characters his own moment in the spotlight, with Donkey from the Shrek franchise set to get a standalone spin-off film.
The new project will centre on the fast-talking, scene-stealing sidekick voiced by Eddie Murphy, with a release date now confirmed for 30 June 2028.
Actors Antonio Banderas, Mike, Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz at Tribeca Shrek Forever After premiere, 2010. Nata Sha, Shutterstock
Donkey has been a core part of the Shrek universe since the original film debuted in 2001, appearing in all four main movies alongside Shrek and Princess Fiona, as well as a range of spin-offs, TV specials, video games and theme park attractions.
The upcoming film will reportedly serve as an origin story, exploring how a younger Donkey became the character fans met in the first film. Murphy is expected to return to voice the character.
The move marks only the second time a Shrek character has been given their own feature-length spin-off, following Puss in Boots, who first led his own film in 2011 and later returned for The Last Wish in 2022.
Cameron Diaz voices Fiona in Shrek. The Image Worx, Shutterstock
Before Donkey’s solo outing arrives, fans will return to the main franchise with Shrek 5, which is currently scheduled for release in June 2027. The first trailer was released earlier this month, and it received mixed reviews.
Universal confirmed that Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz will all return as the voices of Shrek, Donkey and Fiona.
The trailer also introduces a new generation of characters, with Zendaya, Marcello Hernández (Saturday Night Live) and Skyler Gisondo (Superman, Focker-in-Law) joining the cast as Shrek and Fiona’s children — Felicia, Fergus and Farkle.
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The footage opens with a storybook recap of the original 2001 film before Donkey breaks the narration, suggesting a “makeover” for the franchise — a moment that appears to hint at the updated animation style used in the new film.
The trio then return to the magical world of Far, Far Away, encountering new and familiar characters, including a parody snowman referencing Frozen, returning character Gingy, and a series of surreal fairytale encounters.
The trailer ends with Shrek, Fiona, their children and Donkey trapped in a jail cell, while Donkey performs renditions of “Baby Come Back” and “Roxanne”.
Mike Meyers voices Shrek in the franchise. Lev Radin, Shutterstock
Fan response online has been sharply divided, with some welcoming the long-awaited return of the franchise, while others criticised the updated look and tone.
One viewer wrote: “You guys don’t know what this means to me”, while another added: “I’m just excited that we are actually getting another Shrek movie.”
Others defended the updated animation style, arguing that change is inevitable after two decades of technological development.
One user said: “Animation style was never an issue for me. People just hate hearing ‘change’ which is always going to happen because technology gets better…”
However, criticism was widespread among long-time fans, particularly around Shrek’s redesigned appearance and perceived shift in tone.
One reaction read: “The change of animation is so off putting.” Another said: “They completely changed Shrek’s look and voice. The original was much better.” Others were more blunt, writing: “Nope, hate it. The movie did NOT need that makeover.”
Shrek 5 marks the first main entry in the franchise since 2010, following a period where the series continued through spin-offs including Puss in Boots (2011) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022).
