Shrek 5 Trailer Reveals Zendaya’s Felicia and the Return of Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona

Shrek 5 cast reunites Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy.

DreamWorks Animation is officially bringing audiences back to the swamp with Shrek 5, the next big-screen chapter in one of the most beloved animated franchises of all time. The new film is set to arrive only in theaters in summer 2027, giving fans a long-awaited return to Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and the fairy tale world that helped redefine animated comedy.

The biggest headline is the return of the original core cast. Mike Myers is back as Shrek, Eddie Murphy returns as Donkey, and Cameron Diaz reprises her role as Fiona. Joining them is Zendaya, who voices Felicia, the daughter of Shrek and Fiona. The film also introduces Marcello Hernandez as Fergus and Skyler Gisondo as Farkle, Felicia’s brothers.

For longtime fans, that means Shrek 5 is not just another sequel. It is a family reunion, a next-generation story, and a major return for a franchise that has stayed part of pop culture for more than two decades.

Why Shrek 5 Is Already One of 2027’s Biggest Animated Movies

The reason Shrek 5 matters is simple: this franchise never really left.

Since the original Shrek arrived in 2001, the green ogre has become one of animation’s most recognizable characters. The first film flipped fairy tale storytelling upside down by turning the “monster” into the hero, the princess into a fighter, and the talking sidekick into one of the funniest animated characters ever put on screen.

Shrek also gave DreamWorks Animation a franchise that could appeal to kids and adults at the same time. The humor was sharp, the pop culture jokes were everywhere, and the heart of the story still worked. At its core, Shrek was always about being accepted for who you are.

That is why a new Shrek movie still feels like an event. Fans who grew up with the original films are now older, and many are ready to share the swamp with a new generation.

Zendaya Joins Shrek 5 as Felicia

One of the biggest reasons fans will click into Shrek 5 is Zendaya’s new role as Felicia. She is playing Shrek and Fiona’s daughter, which immediately gives the franchise a fresh point of view.

Felicia was previously introduced as one of Shrek and Fiona’s children, but Shrek 5 appears ready to give the next generation of ogres a bigger spotlight. With Zendaya voicing Felicia, the film adds one of the biggest stars in the world to a franchise already packed with comedy legends.

Zendaya’s casting also gives Shrek 5 major crossover appeal. She brings fans from major franchises like Dune, Spider-Man, and the upcoming The Odyssey, while also stepping into a character connected directly to Shrek and Fiona’s family.

That is the smart move for a long-running animated franchise. Bring back what fans love, but give them someone new to follow.

Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz Return

The return of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz is the heart of this announcement.

Myers’ Shrek voice became instantly iconic, mixing sarcasm, anger, vulnerability, and a surprising amount of sweetness. Murphy’s Donkey remains one of the funniest animated sidekicks ever, and Diaz’s Fiona helped turn the “princess” role into something tougher, stranger, and more fun.

Together, the trio gave the franchise its magic. Shrek and Donkey’s friendship became the comedy engine, while Shrek and Fiona’s love story gave the series emotional weight. Without those three voices, Shrek 5 would not feel like a true return.

Thankfully, this sequel has them all back.

Shrek 5 Introduces Fergus and Farkle

Along with Zendaya’s Felicia, Shrek 5 will also feature Shrek and Fiona’s sons, Fergus and Farkle.

Marcello Hernandez, known for Saturday Night Live and Happy Gilmore 2, voices Fergus. Skyler Gisondo, known for Superman and Booksmart, voices Farkle. Their casting suggests Shrek 5 will lean into the chaos of Shrek and Fiona as parents, while also giving the movie a new comedic rhythm.

The original Shrek films always worked best when they mixed emotional stakes with absurd comedy. Adding Shrek’s kids gives the sequel a natural way to explore family, growing up, and what it means to be part of a very unusual royal-ogre household.

How Shrek Changed Animated Movies

To understand why Shrek 5 is such a big deal, it helps to look back at the original run.

The first Shrek introduced audiences to an ogre who wanted nothing more than to be left alone in his swamp. Instead, he was dragged into a fairy tale rescue mission with Donkey and ended up falling in love with Princess Fiona. The film became a massive hit because it made fun of classic fairy tales while still telling one of its own.

Then came Shrek 2, which many fans still consider one of the best animated sequels ever made. It expanded the world with Far Far Away, introduced Fiona’s parents, and brought in Puss in Boots, who quickly became one of the franchise’s most popular characters.

Shrek the Third pushed the story into questions of family, responsibility, and what it means for Shrek to become a father. While the film leaned heavily into comedy, it also planted the seeds for the family story that Shrek 5 now appears ready to continue.

Shrek Forever After gave Shrek a darker “what if?” story, showing him a world where he never rescued Fiona, never befriended Donkey, and never built the life fans knew. It served as a reflective chapter about appreciating the life he had instead of wishing for the one he thought he missed.

Now, Shrek 5 has the chance to continue that story with Shrek and Fiona’s children at the center.

Franchise Veterans Behind the Camera

Shrek 5 is being directed by Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn, two filmmakers with deep ties to the Shrek universe.

Vernon was part of the directing team on Shrek 2, which earned an Academy Award nomination. He also directed DreamWorks Animation titles, including Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted and Monsters vs. Aliens. Fans also know his voice, even if they do not realize it, because Vernon has voiced Gingy, the Gingerbread Man, across the Shrek universe.

Dohrn also has a long history with the franchise. He worked on the second and third Shrek films as a writer and artist and served as Head of Story on Shrek Forever After, where he also voiced Rumpelstiltskin. Beyond Shrek, Dohrn helped shape DreamWorks’ Trolls franchise, co-directing the first film and directing Trolls World Tour and Trolls Band Together.

That matters because Shrek 5 is not being handed to outsiders. It is being shaped by creatives who understand the tone, humor, and emotional core of the franchise.

Chris Meledandri and Gina Shay Produce

The producing team is also a major part of why Shrek 5 is worth watching closely.

Returning producer Gina Shay, who produced Shrek Forever After and worked across the Trolls franchise, is producing the new film. She is joined by Chris Meledandri, the CEO of Illumination and producer behind major animated franchises including Despicable Me, Minions, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

That combination is important. Shay brings direct Shrek franchise experience, while Meledandri brings massive modern animation franchise success. For DreamWorks Animation, Shrek 5 is clearly being positioned as a major theatrical event, not just another nostalgic sequel.

The film is co-directed by Brad Ableson, whose credits include Minions: The Rise of Gru and The Simpsons.

What Is Shrek 5 About?

DreamWorks Animation has not revealed the full plot for Shrek 5 yet, but the cast announcement gives fans plenty to talk about.

With Felicia, Fergus, and Farkle confirmed, the movie appears ready to explore Shrek and Fiona’s family in a bigger way than the previous films did. That opens the door for a story about parenting, identity, and how the next generation handles life in Far Far Away.

The best Shrek movies always balanced fairy tale chaos with real emotional questions. Who gets to be the hero? What does happily ever after actually look like? Can someone who feels like an outsider still build a family and a home?

Shrek 5 now has the chance to ask those questions again through Shrek, Fiona, and their children.

Why Fans Care About Shrek 5

Shrek 5 has several major reasons to be on every movie fan’s radar.

The original cast is back. Zendaya is joining the franchise. Shrek and Fiona’s children are stepping into the story. The film is being directed by Shrek veterans. The franchise has been away from the main big-screen spotlight for years. Most importantly, the world of Shrek still has a massive emotional connection with audiences.

This is not just nostalgia. Shrek is a franchise built on jokes, songs, weird fairy tale creatures, and a big green character who helped prove that animated movies could be sarcastic, emotional, and wildly rewatchable at the same time.

If Shrek 5 can recapture that mix, DreamWorks Animation may have one of the biggest family movies of 2027.

When Does Shrek 5 Come Out?

Shrek 5 opens only in theaters in summer 2027.

For fans who grew up quoting Donkey, loving Fiona’s fight scenes, singing along to the needle drops, and watching Shrek learn that family can come from the strangest places, this return is already feeling like a major animated movie event.

Shrek 5 Movie Details

Release Date: June 30, 2027.
Director: Conrad Vernon, Walt Dohrn, and Brad Ableson
Voice Cast: Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, Cameron Diaz as Fiona, Zendaya as Felicia, Marcello Hernandez as Fergus, and Skyler Gisondo as Farkle

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