Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom (2026 film)

It's Not Ogre Yet

—Tagline

Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom
Directed by	Joel Crawford Conrad Vernon
Screenplay by	Paul Fisher Tommy Swerdlow Tom Wheeler
Story by	Mark Swift
Based on	Shrek! by William Steig
Produced by	Chris Meledandri Mark Swift
Starring	Mike Myers Eddie Murphy Cameron Diaz Antonio Banderas Salma Hayek Harvey Guillén Justin Timberlake Andy Serkis Ariana Greenblatt Iain Armitage Max Charles
Cinematography	Chris Stover
Edited by	James Ryan
Music by	Harry Gregson-Williams Hans Zimmer Heitor Pereira (themes)
Production company	DreamWorks Animation
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	November 25, 2026 (Cannes Film Festival) December 23, 2026 (United States)
Running time	125 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$90-100 million.
Box office	$1 billion

Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom (also known as Shrek 5) is a 2026 American 3D computer-animated fantasy action comedy-drama film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book Shrek! by William Steig. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by DreamWorks Pictures, it is the fifth main installment of the Shrek film series, the seventh installment overall counting the Puss in Boots films, and the sequel to Shrek Forever After (2010) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022). The film was directed by Joel Crawford and Conrad Vernon, with a screenplay written by Paul Fisher, Tommy Swerdlow and Tom Wheeler, with Chris Meledandri and Mark Swift as producers. The main score for the film was composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Hans Zimmer, with Heitor Pereira providing music for the additional themes.

Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake, Julie Andrews, Cody Cameron, Conrad Vernon, Christopher Knights, Aron Warner, Chris Miller, Amy Poehler, Amy Sedaris and Cheri Oteri reprise their roles from the four previous Shrek films, while Salma Hayek and Harvey Guillén reprise their roles from the Puss in Boots films. The returning cast is joined by Iain Armitage, Max Charles, and Ariana Greenblatt as three returning characters, and Andy Serkis, Diego Luna, Cate Blanchett, Mahershala Ali, Willem Dafoe, Alan Tudyk, Jeff Goldblum, Ewan McGregor, Toby Jones, David Tennant, Morgan Freeman and Rachel Bloom voice new characters introduced in this film.

In the film, we meet Lord Malachi, a cunning and manipulative former royal advisor from a neighboring kingdom, who harbors a deep disdain for all magical and mythical creatures. He intends to rewrite history by using a powerful artifact, "The Fabled Nexus," to corrupt magical creatures, making them more aligned with their ancient, fearsome depictions. Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, Puss in Boots, and the rest of their friends team up to stop him, all while meeting new faces, confront Malachi's army equipped with anti-magic weapons, and, overall, prevent the possible erasure of the kingdom.

After a mixed reception to an initial teaser trailer featuring a different animation style, the film's original plot and direction were abandoned. Joel Crawford was brought on to direct, with the film adopting the acclaimed animation style of his previous work on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France on November 25, 2026, and was theatrically released in the United States on December 23, 2026.

The film received highly positive reviews, with critics praising the film for its emotional depth, humor, voice acting, sharp wit, unique visual style, and return to the franchise’s roots. It was a major box office success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide.

Cast

• Mike Myers as Shrek.
• Eddie Murphy as Donkey.
• Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona.
• Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots.
• Salma Hayek as Kitty Softpaws.
• Harvey Guillén as Perrito.
• Ariana Greenblatt as Felicia.
• Iain Armitage as Fergus.
• Max Charles as Farkle.
• Julie Andrews as Queen Lillian.
• Justin Timberlake as King Artie "Arthur" Pendragon.
• Andy Serkis as Lord Malachi, a cunning and manipulative former royal advisor with a deep hatred for magical beings.
• Diego Luna as Sergeant Kaelen "The Hammer," a large, burly man who wields a massive, two-handed war hammer.
• Cate Blanchett as Lady Isolde "The Poisoner", a deadly noblewoman who uses a variety of poisoned daggers and darts.
• Mahershala Ali as Alaric "The Trapper," a wiry, resourceful man who uses traps and snares.
• Willem Dafoe as Bartholomew "The Arsonist," a gaunt and unsettling man who wields a flamethrower-like contraption that sets large areas ablaze.
• Alan Tudyk as Leif "The Sentinel," a large man who wields a heavy, two-handed shield with a bladed edge.
• Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Algernon "The Alchemist," a deranged and eccentric scientist who creates terrifying chemical concoctions.
• Ewan McGregor and Toby Jones as The Blacksmith Twins, a pair of twisted blacksmiths who forge the weapons for Malachi's army.
• David Tennant as Professor Alistair Finch, a reclusive historian and cartographer who studies the ancient history of fairy tales and myths. He provides Shrek and the others with valuable knowledge about the Fabled Nexus and Malachi's true intentions.
• Morgan Freeman as The Woodsman, a mysterious hermit who lives deep in the woods and is a master of survival and ancient lore. He provides Shrek and the others with a place to hide, sleep, and a source of wisdom about ancient magical forces.
• Rachel Bloom as Amy, a female dog who lives with Professor Alister Finch, and Perrito’s love interest.
• Conrad Vernon as Gingy.
• Cody Cameron as Pinocchio/The Three Little Pigs.
• Aron Warner as Wolf.
• Christopher Knights as The Three Blind Mice.
• Amy Poehler as Snow White.
• Amy Sedaris as Cinderella.
• Cheri Oteri as Sleeping Beauty.
• Peter Dinklage as Doris the Ugly Stepsister.
  • Dinklage replaces Larry King from the previous three Shrek sequels due to his death in 2021.

Minor/Supporting Characters

• To Be Confirmed Actor as Mabel the Ugly Stepsister.
• Frank Welker as:
  • Dragon.
  • Dronkeys (Debbie, Coco, Bananas, Peanut, Parfait, and Eclair).
• Chris Miller as Magic Mirror.
• Cody Cameron as The Muffin Man.
• Jon Hamm as Brogan the Ogre.
• Jane Lynch as Gretched the Ogre.
• Craig Robinson as Cookie the Ogre.

Production

Development

Following the success of Shrek 2 in May 2004, then–DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed that the Shrek story had been outlined into five films almost from the beginning. "Before the first one was finished we talked about what the whole story of Shrek is, and each of the chapters answers questions about the first movie and gives us an insight," said Katzenberg. "Shrek 3 and 4 are going to reveal other unanswered questions and, finally, in the last chapter, we will understand how Shrek came to be in that swamp when we meet him in the first movie." After the release of Shrek the Third in 2007, Katzenberg then announced that the fifth film would be released in 2013.

In May 2009, DreamWorks announced that the fourth film's title would be Shrek Forever After, indicating that it would be the last in the Shrek series. Later in 2009, that was confirmed by Bill Damaschke, the former head of creative production at DWA, with him saying: "All that was loved about Shrek in the first film is brought to the final film."

Josh Klausner, one of the writers of Shrek Forever After, explained in 2010 the script's evolution: "When I first came onto the project, it wasn't supposed to be the final chapter — there were originally going to be five Shrek movies. Then, about a year into the development, Jeffrey Katzenberg decided that the story that we'd come up with was the right way for Shrek's journey to end."

In February 2014, in an interview with Fox Business, Katzenberg hinted that a fifth film could still be made. "We like to let them have a little bit of time to rest," he said of the characters. "But I think you can be confident that we'll have another chapter in the Shrek series. We're not finished, and more importantly, neither is he."

On June 15, 2016, after Comcast and NBCUniversal purchased DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion, NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke discussed plans to continue the franchise, as well as other DreamWorks films. In July 2016, The Hollywood Reporter cited sources saying that the fifth film was planned for a 2019 release. In September 2016, Eddie Murphy confirmed that the film was expected to be released in 2019 or 2020, and that the script had been completed.

The original story for the film was written by Michael McCullers, based on his own idea. When asked about the script in March 2017, McCullers said it featured "a pretty big reinvention" for the film series. On November 6, 2018, it was reported by Variety that Chris Meledandri, Illumination's CEO, had been tasked to be the executive producer of both Shrek 5 and Puss in Boots 2, with the cast of the previous films potentially returning.

In April 2023, Meledandri revealed that a fifth film was still in talks with Murphy, Mike Myers, and Cameron Diaz expected to return. In June 2024, Murphy revealed that production on the film had commenced in January of the same year. He also stated that the film was expected to be released in 2025. On July 9, DreamWorks officially announced the release date for the film as July 1, 2026, with Myers, Murphy and Diaz returning, and Walt Dohrn set to direct.

On February 28, 2025, a teaser was dropped to reveal the main cast, including Zendaya as Shrek and Fiona's daughter, Felicia. The teaser received polarizing reactions from fans, mostly targeting the new art direction and updated designs of the characters. Parallels were also drawn to the negative response to the 2019 Sonic the Hedgehog film trailer, with some criticizing the designs for losing the appeal of the original Shrek film. However, some fans praised the technological advancements since the previous films and felt that the updated designs were justified.

By October 2025, the film was titled Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom, and the original plot was scrapped and redeveloped into a new story, rather than the characters (as fans suspected) traveling into the real world, or having a dad-and-daughter conflict scenario with Shrek and Felicia. Lastly, the character Puss in Boots was set to return, along with Kitty Softpaws, and Perrito. Crawford told that the initial plan for Shrek 5 was for Puss to not appear at all. However, after becoming the official director for Shrek 5, Crawford advocated for Puss's direct involvement, arguing that his new, mature perspective was crucial to combating a villain who represents the danger of living without purpose (a theme Puss had overcome). The writers framed his return not as a step back, but as a commitment to his friends and to protecting the "happily ever after" he now cherishes.

Casting

The main cast, including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas, was confirmed to be returning, including many others. The film also marked the first time the voice cast for the Princesses (Amy Poehler, Amy Sedaris and Cheri Oteri) and Artie (Justin Timberlake) returned to the franchise since Shrek the Third (2007). The new main antagonist, Lord Malachi, was introduced, with Andy Serkis cast in the role. Serkis's performance was lauded by the creative team for bringing a sinister and manipulative quality to the character without relying on magic or brute force. Diego Luna, Cate Blanchett, Mahershala Ali, Willem Dafoe, Alan Tudyk, Jeff Goldblum, Ewan McGregor and Toby Jones were also revealed to voice cast his army of villains. Ariana Greenblatt was cast as Felicia, replacing the previously cast Zendaya from an earlier stage of development. The film marks Peter Dinklage’s first role as a returning character, Doris the Ugly Stepsister, taking over the role from the late Larry King.

Writing

Director Joel Crawford wanted the film's tone to be a departure from the pop culture-heavy comedies of the early 2000s and fully embrace the neo-fairy tale aesthetic established in The Last Wish. The screenplay was crafted to be a direct continuation of the thematic material from The Last Wish, focusing on legacy, purpose and found family, while aiming for a distinct tone: a deep dramatic core wrapped in the franchise's signature humor. It is notably darker and more serious than the previous films, even surpassing The Last Wish, though it maintains a balance to remain appealing to younger audiences. Following the creative direction of The Last Wish, the filmmakers deliberately avoided the use of dated pop culture references to ensure the film's longevity and universal appeal. The humor is primarily character-based and relies on sharp wit, visual gags, and the core dynamic between Shrek and Donkey, which remains strong. Shrek's character arc from Forever After is maintained: he is a loving father and husband, has a strong, if playfully argumentative, friendship with Donkey, and has a healthy, non-awkward relationship with his growing daughter, Felicia.

Animation and Designs

The film's early animation and designs became a major point of discussion after the initial teaser trailer was released in February. The trailer featured a new animation style that was criticized by many as being too "generic" and a departure from the franchise's established look. Fans compared it unfavorably to the classic films and even the more recent, but different, style of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

In response to the mixed reception, the film's creative direction was changed. Joel Crawford was brought on as the main director alongside Conrad Vernon. The team decided to scrap the original animation plan and instead adopt the stylized, painterly aesthetic of The Last Wish, while still making all the character designs similar to the original films. This change was a direct response to fan and critic feedback, and it was widely praised as a smart move that would revitalize the franchise with a critically acclaimed visual style. Character designs were updated to reflect this new aesthetic while retaining their original iconic looks.

Music

Harry Gregson-Williams, the composer for the first four Shrek films, returned to compose the score. Hans Zimmer, who composed the score for other DreamWorks films, scored the film alongside Gregson-Williams. Heitor Pereira, who scored the music for The Last Wish, composed for the different themes of the film. The score was a blend of classic orchestral themes with new, more modern elements. The film also featured a soundtrack of popular songs, similar to previous installments. By the end of the film, the song “All Star” plays during the end credits, which was done in remembrance of Smash Mouth.

Release

Marketing

The marketing campaign for Shrek 5 began with the controversial teaser trailer that was released in early 2025. Following the backlash and the change in animation style, a second, more positively received trailer was released later, showcasing the new, stylized look. The marketing focused on the return of beloved characters and the promise of a "new kind of adventure" for Shrek and his friends.

Home Media

Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom was released on Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and DVD on February 28, 2027. It was also made available for digital purchase and streaming on Peacock on the same day. The home media release included a number of bonus features, including a making-of documentary on the animation style, deleted scenes, short films, specials, and commentary from the cast and crew.

Reception

Box Office

Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom was a massive commercial success and opened to a record-breaking weekend. The film's strong word-of-mouth led to exceptional longevity at the box office. It grossed over $350 million in the domestic market and over $650 million internationally, for a worldwide total of over $1 billion.

Critical Reception

Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom received highly positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 96% approval rating based on 250 reviews, with an average score of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A triumphant return to form, Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom blends the franchise's signature humor with a stunning new visual style and an emotionally resonant story, proving that the magic of Far Far Away is far from over." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 88 out of 100, based on 55 critics, indicating "universal acclaim."

Many critics considered it a return to form for the franchise, revitalizing it after the lukewarm reception of Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After. The decision to adopt the Puss in Boots: The Last Wish animation style was widely lauded as a brilliant move that gave the film a fresh, artistic feel. Andy Serkis's performance as Lord Malachi was singled out for his masterful voice work, creating another compelling and unsettling villain after Death.

Audience and Fan Response

The film was met with widespread acclaim from audiences and long-time fans of the franchise. The new animation style, initially a source of concern, was embraced by fans who appreciated its artistic quality and emotional expressiveness. The film's plot, which dealt with themes of identity, legacy, and the true meaning of "happily ever after," resonated deeply with audiences.

Future of the Shrek franchise

Following the critical and commercial success of Shrek: The Sundered Kingdom, Joel Crawford has taken a lead role in the future of the franchise. DreamWorks Animation has announced plans to expand the Shrek universe with a series of spin-off films, prequel films, and a television series focusing on other characters in the franchise. Potential projects include the Donkey spin-off film centered on Donkey and Perrito, a TV series about the Princesses, etc.

Trivia

• This is the fourth Shrek film:
  • To start off with a storybook sequence.
  • To have a windmill.
  • To have Shrek roar.
  • To have an angry mob (but targeted at the villains).
  • To show Fiona as a human (in a flashback).
  • To have the Magic Mirror.

• This is the second Shrek film:
  • To have Artie and the Princesses.
  • Where Doris has a bigger role.
  • To use the song "All Star."
• This film takes place shortly after the ending of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and 16 years after the events of Shrek Forever After.
• This is the second Shrek film (or fourth, if you count the Puss in Boots films) to be shot in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio.
• The second film in the Shrek universe to be released in the 2020s, and it is also the second Shrek film to be released in December.
• This is the first major Shrek production since the short, The Pig Who Cried Werewolf, in 2011.
• This is the first Shrek film to use a deep dramatic tone.
• Much like The Last Wish, the film makers chose to avoid the approach of adding pop culture influences in an attempt to not date the film.
• This film is notably darker and more serious than the previous films. In fact, it's more darker then The Last Wish, but not too dark, as it still had to appeal to younger audiences.
• This is the third DreamWorks film to be directed by Joel Crawford, after The Croods: A New Age and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
• This is the ninth DreamWorks Animation film to have it's score to be composed by Harry Gregson Williams. It is also the fifth film in the Shrek film series to be composed by Gregson Williams since Shrek Forever After.
• Smash Mouth's "All Star" plays during the end credits.
• The film brings back a large ensemble of characters from previous installments: Queen Lillian, Pinocchio, Gingy, the Three Little Pigs, Wolf, Blind Mice, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Doris, who each play a more significant role as they are captured by Lord Malachi's army later on in the film.
• Felicia has been given a complete redesign that's different from her appearance in the 2025 teaser trailer. Her personality has also changed: Before the characters embark on their journey to find Malachi, it is revealed that Felicia suffers from agoraphobia; she is not fond of venturing far from familiar places, such as Far Far Away and the Swamp. She fears that Malachi will come for her or harm her parents and siblings. Puss understands her pain since he previously encountered Death and faced his own fears.
• Snow White is shown to have malusdomesticaphobia (a fear of Apples).
• Puss originally wasn't gonna appear in this film, but after Joel Crawford came to direct, he was set to return, alongside Kitty and Perrito.
• The film confirms what happened after Puss left Kitty at the altar in the events preceding Shrek 2. He tells Shrek and Donkey, when he left, he traveled to Far Far Away, drinking away his sorrows at the Poison Apple bar. This explains his presence there when King Harold hires him to assassinate Shrek. This leads to Shrek and Donkey trying to help Puss improve and win Kitty back for good.
• The Ogre Tribe from Shrek Forever After return and are seen living in Far Far Away. This is because Artie, after becoming king, granted all Ogres to live in Far Far Away as citizens, no longer as neglected monsters.
• Death makes a cameo appearance on the wanted posters in Lord Malachi's castle.
• This film shows that Doris is finally in a relationship.
• This film marks the return of Artie Pendragon, Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, as they didn't reappear in Shrek Forever After. This film explains their absence during the events of Shrek Forever After: In one scene Snow White explains that she, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty were off spending time with their respective husbands. King Artie explains he was at the castle, busy with his royal duties and adjusting to his new life as a king.
  • Artie's new appearance and demeanor reflect significant character development, showing him as more independent and responsible.
  • The Princesses also have bigger supporting roles in this film and journey with Shrek and the others to help defeat Malachi and his army.
• This is the first time where Kitty Softpaws and Perrito meets Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and the others.
  • Kitty in particular becomes friends with Fiona, Dragon, and the Princesses, while Perrito becomes best friends with Donkey.
• Fiona has a bigger role, remaining a central, active protagonist and co-leader alongside Shrek throughout the entire adventure.
• Shrek maintains his character development from Shrek Forever After, showing a stable, loving relationship with Fiona and accepting, if playfully arguing with, Donkey.
• Puss and Kitty get married by the end of the film.