'Shrek 5' Receives Delayed Release Date

Summary

• Shrek 5 has been delayed to June 30, 2027, from its original December 2026 slot
• The move avoids competing with major holiday blockbusters like Avengers: Doomsday
• The core voice cast of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz is confirmed to be returning

The release of Shrek 5 has been pushed back half a year to mid-2027, marking the second time the highly anticipated sequel has been delayed. While this news may be disappointing for fans, the move appears to be a calculated and strategic decision by Universal and DreamWorks to ensure the film’s success in a fiercely competitive box office landscape.

The original December 2026 release date was set to place the film in a crowded holiday season, forcing it to compete directly with blockbuster heavyweights such as Marvel‘s Avengers: Doomsday and 20th Century Animation’s Ice Age 6. Rather than battling for family audiences during a period of intense competition, the new June 30, 2027 slot positions Shrek 5 to dominate the lucrative summer movie season, a window that has historically been very successful for animated family films. The new date sees the fifth film open just less than a week after Sony’s anticipated animated Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse film.

Despite the delay, all other key elements of the project remain on track. The beloved core cast of Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey) and Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona) are all confirmed to be returning. The film will also introduce a new character voiced by Zendaya, who joins the franchise as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter. With production moving forward and a clear path now set, the shift to summer 2027 seems less like a setback and more like a tactical play to make sure the film’s return is as massive as the ogre himself.