After more than a decade and a half, the swamp is stirring again. Shrek 5 has just crossed a major production milestone: voice recording is officially complete. The news comes straight from director Conrad Vernon, who helmed the upcoming DreamWorks sequel and couldn't contain his enthusiasm about reuniting the beloved cast.
In a recent chat with Syfy, Vernon revealed that the final recording sessions have wrapped, with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all back in the booth as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona. "Getting the gang back together has been great," he said. "We just finished up our last recording sessions. All the main characters—Mike, Eddie, Cameron—are ecstatic about being back in the saddle with Shrek."
The film, slated for a June 30, 2027 release, picks up years after Shrek Forever After (2010) and will see the ogre and his crew venture into a brand-new locale called Further, Further Away. While plot details remain under wraps, a teaser trailer dropped in June 2026, offering glimpses of this mysterious new setting and introducing some fresh faces.
Among the newcomers are Zendaya (Spider-Man: Brand New Day), Skyler Gisondo (Superman), and Marcello Hernández (Happy Gilmore 2), who will voice the grown-up versions of Shrek and Fiona's triplets: Felicia, Farkle, and Fergus. But Vernon hinted that the casting surprises don't end there. "We've got the new voices, some of which have been announced, but many of which have not," he teased. "Everybody's ecstatic about being part of the Shrek universe. Almost everyone we asked immediately said yes."
The director also praised the ensemble's chemistry, noting, "We could not have cast this better. Every single person on it has been brilliant." His excitement is palpable, and fans are equally eager to see how the franchise evolves after such a long hiatus.
For those needing a refresher, Shrek began in 2001 as a loose adaptation of William Steig's 1990 children's book. The original film won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and its irreverent take on fairy tales struck a chord with audiences worldwide. The franchise expanded with two Puss in Boots spin-offs starring Antonio Banderas, and a Donkey-centric movie has long been rumored. The highest-grossing entry remains Shrek 2 (2004), which earned over $933 million globally and earned Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
As the release date approaches, anticipation continues to build. With voice work done, the team now shifts to final animation and post-production. Vernon's update is a promising sign that Shrek 5 is on track to deliver the humor, heart, and fairy-tale subversion that made the franchise a cultural touchstone.
For more on the latest in animation and family entertainment, check out our coverage of another beloved voice actor's return and Apple TV+'s sci-fi sensation. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for all your entertainment news.
