Shrek 5 with original cast returning is in the works

Shrek 5 is not only in the works, but may feature the franchise's original cast members.

Shrek just wouldn't be the same without the voices of the likes of Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona), Eddie Murphy (Donkey) and Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots). And luckily for fans of the franchise, the original cast may be set to return for the fifth instalment.

Screenwriter Michael McCullers confirmed a fifth film was in the works back in April 2017, however, little else has been given away about the movie... until now.

Thankfully, the period of no news seems to be good news, with Illumination Entertainment founder and CEO Chris Meledandri having revealed the expectations for the upcoming film's cast.

Dreamworks

Meledandri explained how similarly to Mario, if you look at 'what the core elements are that audiences have loved' about a franchise, you 'do your very best to honour those core elements'.

He continued: "And then you’re hard at work to build story elements and new characters that take you to brand new places. The original cast is a huge part of that.

"We anticipate the cast coming back. Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return," Meledandri told Variety.

Dreamworks

Meledandri isn't just teasing us either - with many members of the cast having already spoken out publicly in support of another Shrek movie, eager to return.

In an interview with Etalk, Murphy stated he'd 'do another Shrek in two seconds'.

Last year, Myers told GQ: "If I had to do one Shrek a year I’d be thrilled."

And Banderas told Deadline in December: "The first time I did Puss In Boots, I was working on Broadway, so I did my first session there. I’ve done five movies now.

"There is probably gonna be another, and Shrek is probably coming back."

Dreamworks

However, while the same cast may hopefully be returning to the fifth instalment of the franchise, it doesn't mean there won't be any big changes to the Shrek we know and love.

In his interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, McCullers teased: "Shrek 5 is being developed. I finished that script, which I really, really, really love.

"It's really personal to me. It's got a pretty big reinvention behind it that I guess I can't reveal.

"Since DreamWorks was sold to Universal in that time for over $3 billion [£2.4bn], I imagine they're particularly interested in it stepping up. And actually figuring out the future of the franchise in that way on the corporate level.

"Reinvention was sort of called for. There's been four movies and a lot of material, so the characters are pretty beloved and they're great characters, but you also have to think of a pretty new take at that point."

Topics: TV and Film

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.