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Illumination founder and CEO, Chris Meledandri, recently shared the exciting news, revealing that a new Shrek movie is in the works, with the original cast returning for the sequel. Meledandri also mentioned his plans to create a Donkey spinoff movie, a character played by Eddie Murphy in the franchise.
The Return of the Original Cast
Meledandri explained that negotiations with the original cast, including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, are going well. “We anticipate the cast coming back,” he revealed. “Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”
The CEO emphasized the importance of honoring the core elements that audiences loved in the previous “Shrek” movies while building new story elements and characters that take viewers to new places. He also noted that the original cast played a huge part in this effort.
A New ‘Donkey’ Spinoff
Meledandri expressed his excitement about the possibility of a Donkey spinoff, following the character’s popularity during the original Shrek movies. He believes that a movie focused on Donkey’s antics would be funnier than the Puss in Boots spinoffs.
Eddie Murphy, who played Donkey in the Shrek movies, has already expressed his willingness to return to the role. During a recent interview, Murphy said, “If [DreamWorks] ever came with another Shrek, I’d do it in two seconds. I love Donkey.”
Meledandri was thrilled to hear Murphy’s comments and stated, “It’s evidence of his strong enthusiasm for a role that he so brilliantly inhabited and really created alongside the artists at DreamWorks.”
The Importance of ‘Shrek’ in Animated Film History
The Shrek franchise has a special place in the history of animated films, with its ability to endure and maintain a strong fan base. Meledandri noted that the longevity of Shrek and its spinoffs is a testament to their popularity among fans.
The CEO compared the process of creating the new Shrek movie to that of the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie, saying, “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.”
As Meledandri prepares to launch the Super Mario Bros. Movie and work on several other projects, the announcement of a new Shrek movie with the original cast returning and a possible Donkey spinoff has fans eagerly anticipating what’s next. While there are no details yet about the storyline or release date for Shrek 5, fans can rest assured that they will be able to relive their favorite moments with the beloved characters.
