Shrek 5 Trailer Unveiled
Universal Releases First 'Shrek 5' Trailer, Revealing Cast Returns for 2027 Film
Universal has released the first trailer for "Shrek 5," and the ogre is officially back. The film is set to hit theaters on June 30, 2027 — marking the franchise's return after a 17-year gap since "Shrek Forever After" in 2010. WHIO reported the news as the trailer dropped, drawing massive attention online.
The trailer racked up 11.9 million views on X within just three hours of release. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all reprise their classic roles. Joining them is a new generation of voice talent, including Zendaya, Marcello Hernandez, and Skyler Gisondo, who play Shrek and Fiona's now-teenage triplets.
Original Cast Returns After Nearly Two Decades Away
Mike Myers returns as Shrek, Eddie Murphy is back as Donkey, and Cameron Diaz reprises Princess Fiona. Diaz came out of retirement specifically for this project, and her involvement was a key factor in getting the film greenlit, according to Variety. Murphy has said recording sessions "give him headaches" but expressed real excitement for the character's return.
The franchise has been dormant since 2010, when "Shrek Forever After" was marketed as the "final chapter." The long pause ended after NBCUniversal bought DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion in 2016. The surprise hit "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" in 2022, which grossed $484 million worldwide, proved the Shrek universe still had a wide audience.
Zendaya and SNL Star Join as Shrek's Grown Children
Zendaya voices Felicia, Shrek and Fiona's teenage daughter. She is expected to play the character with a rebellious edge. Marcello Hernandez, a breakout star from "Saturday Night Live," voices Fergus. Skyler Gisondo, known for playing Jimmy Olsen in "Superman," voices Farkle. WPXI confirmed all three as part of the new cast.
The studio's strategy is clear: bring back the nostalgia of the original cast while using Zendaya and Hernandez to pull in Gen Z and younger viewers. The triplets were babies in earlier films. Making them teenagers now gives the story a fresh angle without throwing out what fans already love.
New Animation Style Sparks Fan Backlash Online
The trailer revealed a noticeable change in how the film looks. The studio shifted to a new rendering engine called MoonRay, which gives characters a cleaner, rounder, more "cartoony" look. Fans on X quickly pushed back, calling the style "Disney-fied" and even comparing the reaction to the early controversy over the redesigned Sonic the Hedgehog. Boston 25 News covered the trailer release as debate spread online.
Not everyone sees the change as a problem. Some outlets frame it as a technical step forward using open-source tools. But many longtime fans feel the new look loses the "gritty, painterly" style that defined the original DreamWorks films. The debate is already one of the biggest talking points surrounding the announcement.
A Billion-Dollar Franchise Gearing Up for More
The Shrek franchise has grossed over $4 billion globally. "Shrek 2" remains the top earner at $929 million worldwide. "Shrek 5" is projected to push the series past $5 billion total, which would make it the second highest-grossing animated franchise in history, trailing only "Despicable Me," according to WOKV.
Universal is planning well beyond this single film. A standalone "Donkey" movie is already slated for 2028, with Eddie Murphy set to star. The studio is building what insiders call a "Shrek-verse" — a series of films, theme park tie-ins, and merchandise that mirrors how Disney and Pixar manage their biggest properties. "Shrek 5" faces stiff competition in June 2027, releasing the same month as Sony's "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" and Pixar's "Gatto."
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