Shrek 5 in the works, Donkey spin-off possible at Illumination

Illumination’s CEO really does want to be a success. Shrek 5 happen.

Variety sits down before the premier ofSuper Mario Bros. Movie Chris Meledandri expressed excitement about the possibility of reviving the Shrek franchise. This is something that’s been teased before, most recently in 2018, when Shrek and the Shrek franchise was handed off to Illumination. This time around, Meledandri expressed a particular desire to reunite the original cast of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy — and also said that negotiations have started and are going well.

“It’s not that dissimilar to the process that we went through with ‘Mario,’ where you look at what the core elements are that audiences have loved, and you do your very best to honor those core elements,” Meledandri said. “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.”

There have been rumours of previous Shrek sequels. However, no such reboots were ever produced. But the success of 2022’s The Last Wish: Puss in BootsPerhaps this has sparked a renewed interest in the franchise. This past January, Eddie Murphy expressed desire to return to the role of Donkey in a spinoff or in a sequel, saying, “I love Puss in Boots, but he ain’t funny as the Donkey.”

In the same manner that plans exist for Donkey, there aren’t any concrete plans to spin off Donkey. Shrek 5, but Meledandri believes that it could happen, “Without question.”

Also, future Meledandri spoke about Secret Life of Pets and Sing movies and suggested a brand new movie, called Migration. This title will follow a family with ducks. It will be directed and produced byCelestine and Ernest’s Benjamin Renner. Meledandri says that the film has a painterly quality — much different from the typical in-house Illumination style. The trailer will soon be available. Super Mario Bros. Movie.

“It represents Illumination’s ongoing commitment to telling original stories, which I think is absolutely essential to culture,” Meledandri said.