You can keep your Citizen Kane; your Casablanca; your Shawshank Redemption – there’s only one title befitting of ‘greatest movie of all time’ crown. Shrek (2001). And Shrek 2 (2004) as a close-second.
Initially, many of us thought Shrek: Forever After (2010) was the end of the DreamWorks’ run of swamp-based action; but it looks like we were far, far away from the mark. And now I’ve seen the news? Well, I’m a believer.
Shrek 5 is reportedly in the works; and the original cast—Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, the lot!—are said to be coming back for the first time in more than 13 years.
A fifth installment of the beloved franchise was confirmed back in 2017, but an uncomfortable period of silence has passed since then (Do the roar, Shrek). Now, Illumination Entertainment founder and CEO Chris Meledandri has followed Shrek’s ‘better-out-than-in’ advice and revealed details for the casting of Shrek 5.
“We anticipate the cast coming back,” he said in an interview with Variety. “Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”
Donkey, the Eddie Murphy-voiced lover of boulders and dragons, is also set to step further into the limelight. Much like his co-star Puss In Boots, the noble ass might just receive his own spin-off. When asked whether he thought Donkey has what it takes to fill those shoes, Meledandri said: “Without question.”
And Eddie Murphy, clearly agrees — in an interview with ETalk back in January he spilled his love for the character of Donkey, and even laid down a statement about a fellow character:“If [DreamWorks] ever came with another ‘Shrek,’ I’d do it in two seconds. I love Donkey. They did ‘Puss in Boots’ movies. I was like, ‘They should have done 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.”
No details on the plots have been announced for these projects, but, while I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, I’m confident that news of Shrek 5 AND a potential Donkey spinoff will be a welcome dose of nostalgia for many. Aye.