Illumination CEO and Despicable Me director Chris Meledandri has hinted at the return of the original cast for Shrek 5 and a possible Donkey spin-off movie. Meledandri revealed in a recent interview with Variety that DreamWorks Animation is looking to reboot the Shrek franchise, starting with Shrek 5. Negotiations are reportedly underway to bring back the original voice cast, including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, to their iconic roles. Meledandri said that talks have just started and indications are that the actors are enthusiastic about returning.
Meledandri shared that the process for reviving the Shrek franchise is similar to that of crafting the upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie. He said that the creative team is focused on identifying the elements that audiences have enjoyed and incorporating these elements into the reboot. Additionally, Meledandri acknowledged that Eddie Murphy’s Donkey is a character with potential for his own standalone movie. Murphy himself expressed his excitement about returning to the franchise earlier this year, saying that he would love to play Donkey again.
The last Shrek film was Shrek Forever After in 2010, and fans of the franchise have eagerly awaited a fifth installment. In 2016, Michael McCullers, the screenwriter for Austin Powers, was reportedly developing the script for the movie. Meledandri’s oversight of the project is part of his role as executive producer for both Shrek 5 and the Puss in Boots sequel.
As the creative advisor for DreamWorks Animation, Meledandri has a track record of working on successful animated movies. His company, Illumination, is responsible for hits such as Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing. Meledandri’s work on the Shrek franchise is sure to generate excitement among fans and animation enthusiasts alike.