Zendaya has joined the cast of Shrek 5 and will play the titular ogre’s daughter.
It was confirmed last July that a new film would arrive in 2026, just in time for the franchise’s 25th anniversary, and her appearance in the film was confirmed when a new first-look teaser for the film was released today (February 27).
It depicts the Magic Mirror showing Shrek and Donkey who the “fairest of them all” is, which is apparently Shrek himself. Zendaya’s character is depicted as a slightly goth-looking ogre with green lipstick and a nose ring.
The teaser also confirmed that the film will be released on December 23, 2026. This is slightly later than the July 2026 release date that was originally confirmed last year.
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz will return as Shrek, Donkey and Fiona respectively.
Details surrounding the plot for Shrek 5 are still under wraps, and it is currently unknown if Antonia Banderas will return as Puss In Boots.
Eddie Murphy let slip in June that he had begun recording for Shrek 5, as well as a standalone Donkey film. “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].”
Meanwhile, Perry, the beloved miniature donkey who inspired Donkey’s characterisation, died last month aged 30. News was confirmed by Jenny Kiratli, the donkey’s handler, who told local outlet Palo Alto that Perry had been euthanised after battling a painful hoof disease called laminitis.
He had been a fixture of the Bol Park pasture for over three decades, with Kiratli explaining that one of the animators for Shrek lived nearby, and was directed towards the pasture by his wife because she knew he was working on a donkey character for the new film.
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