Eddie Murphy revealed in a new interview with Collider that he has already begun voice recording for “Shrek 5” and will next do a Donkey spinoff movie. Variety reported in April 2023 that Universal and DreamWorks Animation were eyeing a fifth “Shrek” movie with the original cast (Murphy as Donkey, Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Fiona) and a Donkey spinoff film for Murphy. It now seems like those projects are definitely happening, according to Murphy.
Variety has reached out to Universal for comment.
“We started doing [‘Shrek 5’] months ago,” Murphy told Collider. “I did this. I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up. ‘Shrek’ is coming out and Donkey’s gonna have his own movie. We’re gonna do Donkey as well. So we’re gonna do a ‘Shrek,’ and we’re doing a Donkey [movie].”
Murphy clarified that both movies are not being made at the time, adding: “I started recording ‘Shrek,’ I think it’s coming out in 2025. And we’re doing a Donkey one next.”
The “Shrek” franchise released four feature films between 2001 and 2010. The original “Shrek” turned DreamWorks Animation into a powerhouse studio with its $487 million worldwide gross. The movie became the first Oscar winner in the animated feature category. “Shrek 2” grossed $928 million. Both films competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
While “Shrek the Third” and “Shrek Forever After” earned less acclaim than the first two movies, they still managed to gross $813 million and $752 million worldwide, respectively.
Murphy told Entertainment Tonight in 2023 that he’d do a fifth “Shrek” movie “in two seconds” if he was ever asked to reprise Donkey.
“I love Donkey,” Murphy said. “You know, they did ‘Puss in Boots’ movies. I was like, ‘They should have did 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. … I would do a Donkey movie. I would do another ‘Shrek’ in two seconds.”
The most recent “Shrek” universe movie was 2022’s “Puss in the Boots: The Last Wish,” which Universal Pictures release in theaters to $485 million worldwide.
From Variety US