'Shrek' beloved Donkey spinoff film locks June 2028 release date
Los Angeles, June 26
Remember Donkey? Shrek's chatty, deeply nerdy sidekick. Well, Donkey is now all set to find the spotlight in a separate spinoff of the beloved animated series.
According to Variety, Universal and DreamWorks have scheduled 'Donkey' to hit theatres on June 30, 2028. Eddie Murphy will be back to reprise his signature role in the film, which is said to serve as an origin story of how a donkey became the Donkey.
The film will be directed by Charlie Bean, best known for 'The Lego Ninjago Movie' and the live-action 'Lady and the Tramp'. Co-directed by Matt Flynn, it will be produced by Rebecca Huntley.
The 'Donkey' update comes at a time when Universal and DreamWorks are set to release 'Shrek 5' in summer 2027.
In the sequel, Mike Myers, Murphy, and Cameron Diaz will return to the fictional land of Far, Far Away, reprising their roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona.
Actor Zendaya will also join the cast in 'Shrek 5'.
The trailer for 'Shrek 5' was recently unveiled, beginning with a storybook recapping the original tale of Shrek, Fiona and Donkey from the 2001 movie. Donkey interrupts the narration and says it's time for a makeover, hinting at the change in storytelling pattern from its predecessors.
The film is directed by franchise veterans Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn.
Originally released in 2001, the 'Shrek' became an instant hit, collecting nearly USD 50 million globally, as per Variety. The film also became the first-ever Oscar winner for animated feature.
It was followed by three sequels, including 2004's 'Shrek 2', 2007's 'Shrek the Third', and 2010's 'Shrek Forever After'. It also brought two 'Puss in Boots' spin-offs, which collectively earned over USD 3 million worldwide.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I grew up watching Shrek with my cousins during summer vacations in India. This franchise is pure nostalgia. But 2028 seems so far away! Hope they don't mess up the magic like some sequels do. 🤞
Good for them, but honestly, is this really necessary? Shrek 5 and a Donkey spinoff seems like milking a franchise dry. I'd rather they focus on new stories instead of living in the past. Just my honest opinion.
Donkey's humor was always my favorite part of Shrek. Eddie Murphy's voice acting is legendary. A whole movie of that? Sign me up! The trailer teaser with Donkey talking about a makeover has me curious. 👀
Nostalgia is powerful, yaar. Shrek was the first Oscar-winning animated feature, and Donkey was a huge part of that success. I'm excited for this spinoff, but 2028 release date is too late. By then, my kids will be teenagers! 😅
This feels like a cash grab. The Puss in Boots spinoffs were decent, but do we really need Donkey's origin story? Sometimes less is more. I'll probably still watch it though, because the first Shrek was just that good. 😄
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