Zendaya Joins the Cast of ‘Shrek 5’

The ‘Dune’ and ‘Euphoria’ star is the latest addition to a cast that already has Eddie Murphy confirmed to return as comedy sidekick donkey,

(Left) Zendaya attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ 'Challengers' at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios. (Right) (L to R) Shrek (Mike Myers) and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) in 'Shrek'. Photo: DreamWorks Animation.

Preview:

Zendaya is part of the cast for ‘Shrek 5.’
She’ll play the daughter of Shrek and Fiona.
Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon are directing the new movie.

Are we about to get another viral video along the lines of Gabriel Gundacker’s ‘Zendaya is Meechee’?

Given that the ‘Dune,’ ‘Challengers’ and ‘Euphoria’ star is set to follow her voice role in 2018’s ‘Smallfoot’ with another DreamWorks Animation title, we might just.

But in this case, she’s aboard the crown jewel of the company’s portfolio, the latest installment of the ‘Shrek’ franchise.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that the superstar has taken the role of main characters Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona’s (Cameron Diaz) daughter.

DreamWorks Animation and Universal confirmed the news in a new YouTube video…

The video also serves to lock down that Myers and Diaz are definitely back for this one, and we’ve already heard from Eddie Murphy on his confirmed return.

Here’s what Murphy told Collider during an interview for ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Axel F’:

“We started doing ‘Shrek 5’ months ago. I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up. ‘Shrek’ is coming out, and Donkey’s gonna have his own movie. We’re gonna do Donkey as well. So we’re gonna do a ‘Shrek’ and we’re doing a ‘Donkey’ [movie].”

DreamWorks didn’t mention the Donkey movie, but there’s still a chance we’ll see that.

What’s the story of ‘Shrek 5’?

(L to R) Shrek (Mike Myers) and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) in 'Shrek'. Photo: DreamWorks Animation.

The ‘Shrek’ franchise launched with the Oscar-winning 2001 movie that centered on Myers’ ogre, Shrek, who falls for Fiona, the princess of Far Far Away who has been cursed, trapped in the body of an ogre. Donkey provided comic relief, pathos and friendship to Shrek, with the film praised for its humorous twist on fairy-tale tropes.

In addition to the main Shrek movies, it also spawned two 'Puss in Boots' spinoffs, starring Antonio Banderas, which all propelled the franchise to becoming the second biggest in animation history, with $2.9 billion globally.

While the exact plotline for the new movie has yet to be revealed, there have been hints on how it’ll continue the story of the central ogre family and their various friends.

Michael McCullers, who was a key Myers collaborator on the ‘Austin Powers’ movies, has reportedly been at work on the screenplay for the new ‘Shrek’, working from a story he developed with producer Christopher Meledandri. All the ‘Shrek’ stories, of course, chart new tales based on the character originally featured in William Steig’s book.

Shrek 5

"Far Far Away's Finest are coming."

Not Yet RatedDec 23rd, 2026

Showtimes & Tickets

The fifth film in the Shrek franchise. Plot TBA. Read the Plot

We’ve seen various developments in Shrek’s life –– he and Fiona have a family (and Donkey has kids with his dragon partner), so perhaps we’ll be checking back in with their kids for a new story?

It could also potentially see Puss (Antonio Banderas) reuniting with his friends, as hinted at by the end of ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’.

And as is usual for this franchise, there will no doubt be riffs on pop culture and fantasy tales.

This is what producer Meledandri told Variety last year of developing the next ‘Shrek’:

“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. 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.”

Who is making ‘Shrek 5’?

Shrek (Mike Myers) in 'Shrek'. Photo: DreamWorks Animation.

Shrek veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon are directing, along with ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ co-director Brad Ableson.

Dohrn started his run on the franchise as a writer on ‘Shrek 2’ and ‘Shrek the Third,’ and as head of story on ‘Shrek Forever After,’ a film in which he voiced Rumpelstiltskin.

Vernon directed ‘Shrek 2,’ ‘Madagascar 2’ and voices Gingerbread Man (aka “Gingy”).

What else does Zendaya have on her schedule?

(L to R) Zendaya and Tom Holland in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'. Photo: Marvel Studios.

She is, as ever, a much in-demand actor.

Last year alone, Zendaya was seen in tennis love-triangle ‘Challengers’ and ‘Dune: Part Two,’ which featured less sports drama, but did also end up with its own love triangle (between Zendaya’s Chani, Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides and Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan… which, admittedly, is more of a power triangle).

Next up for Zendaya is Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ which has just started shooting and stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and approximately half of Hollywood.

She’ll also reportedly (though it has yet to be officially confirmed) be back as MJ in the next ‘Spider-Man’ movie, which will also see Holland reprising his lead role as Peter Parker in the latest outing for the Marvel character, to be directed this time by Destin Daniel Cretton.

Those two giant movies are due in 2026, but she’s also worked on Kristoffer Borgli’s romantic movie ‘The Drama’ alongside Robert Pattinson. That doesn’t have a confirmed release date, but should be on screens this year.

Meanwhile, there is her much-anticipated return to HBO series ‘Euphoria,’ which has finally started shooting its third season and looks likely to be on screens next year.

When will ‘Shrek 5’ be in theaters?

The movie has a December 23rd, 2026, release date from Universal and DreamWorks, and is the first in the main series since 2010’s ‘Shrek Forever After.’