A new Shrek film is set to release just a year after Shrek 5.

Despite the confirmation that Shrek 5 was in the works for 2024, it wasn’t until this year that we finally got a glimpse of the upcoming installment in the animated DreamWorks series. Set to hit theaters on June 30, 2027, this fifth film will arrive 17 years after 2010’s Shrek Forever After. Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait too long for the next Shrek adventure.

Universal Pictures recently announced that 2028 will bring us Donkey, a film centered around Eddie Murphy’s iconic sidekick from the Shrek franchise. Murphy hinted at this spinoff back in 2025 while promoting another project. The film will be helmed by Charlie Bean, known for directing The Lego Batman Movie and the live-action Lady and the Tramp. Co-directing will be Matt Flyn, who has contributed to projects like The Wild Robot and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The animated feature will be produced by Rebecca Huntely, whose work includes Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Bad Guys.

Donkey will serve as an origin story, addressing the long-standing question: How did a donkey become Donkey? Universal and DreamWorks have slated a June 30, 2028 release for the film, which means it will debut exactly one year after Shrek 5, assuming there are no delays. This isn’t the first spinoff in the Shrek universe; Puss in Boots has already seen two films, starting with the original in 2011 and followed by the well-received Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022. While the idea of a Donkey origin story might not seem thrilling at first glance, the Shrek franchise has proven it still has plenty of engaging tales to tell.

The announcement of Shrek 5 was met with some skepticism due to a new animation style that initially raised eyebrows. However, original cast members Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz are returning to voice Shrek and Fiona, respectively, along with Murphy reprising his role as Donkey. New to the cast is Zendaya, who will voice Shrek and Fiona’s daughter, Felicia. While “Zendaya is Felicia” may not have the same catchy vibe as the “Zendaya is Meechee” meme from 2018’s Smallfoot, it still adds an exciting twist.

Shrek 5 is directed by DreamWorks veterans Walter Dohm, who has been involved with every Shrek film since the second, and Conrad Vernon, co-director of Shrek 2. Despite numerous releases over the years, the Shrek franchise has maintained a commendable level of quality, with only 2010’s Shrek Forever After being considered a low point. Here’s hoping that both Shrek 5 and Donkey deliver two more fantastic animated experiences. Only time will tell.

Before Mike Myers took on the role of the beloved ogre, Chris Farley was originally set to voice him.