‘Shrek 5’ could be released as early as next year, says Eddie Murphy

Shrek 5 could be arriving on screens as early as next year, according to Eddie Murphy.

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23 years since the first Shrek movie hit cinemas, another instalment in the much-loved animated franchise could be coming out much sooner than fans might think.

Speaking in an interview with Collider ahead of the release of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Murphy – who voices Donkey in the Shrek films – not only confirmed that a new movie is indeed in production, but that there might even be a standalone film all about Donkey.

“We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago. I did this, I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up,” he shared. “Shrek is coming out, and Donkey’s gonna have his own movie. We’re gonna do Donkey as well. So we’re gonna do a Shrek, and we’re doing a Donkey [movie].”

Asked whether he was recording lines for both movies simultaneously, the actor shared: “No, not at the same time. I started recording Shrek, I think it’s coming out in 2025, and we’re doing a Donkey one next.”

Back in 2023, Variety reported that Universal were considering a fifth Shrek film with the original cast of Murphy, Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, in addition to a Donkey spinoff.

Four Shrek films have been released between 2001 to 2010, while 2022’s Puss in the Boots: The Last Wish was the last film to come out in the Shrek universe.

Meanwhile, Murphy is returning to another of his most most iconic on-screen characters, reprising the role of iconic cop Axel Foley for the fourth instalment in the Beverly Hill Cop franchise.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F will arrive on Netflix July 3, 2024.