Shrek spin-off finally locks release date with major star back in action

If you thought the fairytale kingdom had gone quiet, think again. Universal Pictures has finally dropped a proper release date for its next big Shrek spin-off—and, no, it’s not another round of Puss in Boots. This time, it’s Donkey’s turn in the spotlight. Yes, seriously. Eddie Murphy is back, and we’re apparently getting his origin story. Why did it take them so long? Who knows. But after the massive success of 2022’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (honestly, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes is impressive for a talking cat in boots), it makes perfect sense they’d go back to the well.

When and What: Donkey Goes Solo

The Donkey standalone film will hit cinemas on 30 June, 2028. If that feels like forever away, you’re not wrong—it’s literally a year after Shrek 5 is meant to arrive, so expect a double dose of ogre-adjacent chaos across two consecutive summers. If you’re into your cinematic clashes, it’s shaping up to be a bit of a showdown. Donkey’s gig will be rubbing shoulders at the box office with DC’s animated Batman film Dynamic Duo, a live-action Call of Duty adaptation, and also sneaking into the same month as Disney and Pixar’s Incredibles 3. So, fairly crowded real estate.

Cast and Crew—And Yes, You’re Getting the Full Donkey Family

• Eddie Murphy: Back as Donkey. He’s hyped up the project, hinting that we're going to see how ‘a donkey, became Donkey’—so, expect an origin angle.
• Directors: Charlie Bean (who did The Lego Batman Movie) and Matt Flynn (The Wild Robot).
• Producer: Rebecca Huntley.
• Plot-wise, Murphy insists it’s not just Donkey on his own, but his family too—his dragon wife, his half-dragon, half-donkey kids. In Murphy’s own words: 'Donkey’s going to be like how Puss in Boots had his own movie... his own little story with his dragon wife and his kids that are half-dragon and half-donkeys. They’ve written this funny story.'

Timeline and What Comes First

If you’re struggling to keep track, here’s how it unfolds: before Donkey’s spin-off arrives, the Shrek gang are back together in Shrek 5. That’s due to hit cinemas one year before Donkey’s solo adventure. The main trio—Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Fiona), and Eddie Murphy (Donkey)—are all returning. We’re also getting a few new faces: Zendaya as Felicia, Marcello Hernández as Fergus, and Skyler Gisondo as Farkle. The directors running that show are Conrad Vernon, Walt Dohrn, and Brad Ableson, with the script by Michael McCullers.

Behind the Scenes and That Production Start

Murphy’s let slip that the Donkey film actually started production way back in September 2025—not that we’ve had much word since then. Presumably the animators are now buried under piles of sketches involving miniature fire-breathing donkeys.