Universal Pictures has reshuffled the release dates for two major animation franchises, Shrek and Minions. Initially slated for a 1 July 2026 premiere, Shrek 5 will now hit cinemas on 23 December 2026, marking a five-month delay. This adjustment allows the currently untitled Minions 3 to move up nearly a year to 1 July 2026, from its previous release date of 30 June 2027.
The fifth instalment of Shrek, directed by Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon with Brad Ableson as co-director, promises the return of beloved voice actors Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey), and Cameron Diaz (Fiona). In contrast, Minions 3 will see Pierre Coffin return to direct and voice the mischievous yellow henchmen, with a script penned by Brian Lynch.

Universal also confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that an untitled Illumination event film will take over Minions 3‘s original release slot of 30 June 2027, pushing back its previous March 2027 debut.
The Minions franchise, bolstered by Despicable Me and its spin-offs, has generated nearly US$5 billion globally. The characters’ last appearance was in Despicable Me 4 in 2024, following the success of Minions: The Rise of Gru in 2022. Meanwhile, Shrek 5 aims to commemorate the series’ 25th anniversary since its 2001 debut. The franchise, which has grossed US$2.9 billion worldwide, last saw a mainline release in 2010 with Shrek Forever After and has since produced two successful Puss in Boots spin-offs, including 2022’s The Last Wish.
The delay for Shrek 5 slightly undercuts its anniversary celebration. Originally scheduled for a summer release, it now lands closer to Christmas, a slot traditionally reserved for box-office heavyweights. Although it currently stands as the sole release for Christmas weekend 2026, it faces stiff competition from high-profile films like Jumanji 3, Ice Age 6, and a yet-to-be-titled Denis Villeneuve project in the weeks leading up to its debut.

Despite Ice Age losing steam with Collision Course, the decade-long gap between its fifth and sixth installments could reignite interest. Similarly, the Jumanji series has consistently performed well in the December box office, with Welcome to the Jungle holding strong against major blockbusters like Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Fans of Shrek can look forward to more than just the main sequel. Eddie Murphy confirmed in a Collider interview that a Donkey-centric spin-off is in development. “We started Shrek 5 months ago. 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,” Murphy shared.
Although Shrek 5’s delay is disappointing for fans, it signals a promising resurgence for the franchise. With the possibility of spin-offs and fresh stories on the horizon, DreamWorks appears committed to reviving the magic of the Shrek universe.