Get ready to head back to the swamp because Illumination Studios has officially confirmed that the “Shrek” franchise is set to be rebooted.
Founder and CEO Chris Meledandri recently revealed to Variety that offers for Shrek 5 have already been sent out to the original cast, including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy, with talks beginning now.
“We anticipate the cast coming back,” Meledandri told the publication. “Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”
Meledandri explained that the reboot would be similar to the approach taken with the upcoming “Super Mario Bros.” film, where the core elements that audiences have loved will be honored, while new storylines and characters will be introduced to take viewers to brand new places. The original cast will also play a huge part in this process.
Eddie Murphy, who previously voiced the beloved character Donkey, has been particularly vocal about his excitement for the upcoming reboot. In an interview with CTV’s Etalk in January of this year, he said, “I would do another Shrek in two seconds,” adding that he’s ready and waiting for Dreamworks Animation to give him a call. Murphy also expressed his desire for a Donkey spinoff, saying, “I love Donkey. You know, they did Puss in Boots movies. I was like, ‘They should have done a Donkey movie. Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots.’ I mean, I love Puss in Boots, but he ain’t as funny as the Donkey.”
Meledandri said he was “thrilled” when he read Murphy’s comments, adding, “It’s evidence of his strong enthusiasm for a role that he so brilliantly inhabited and really created alongside the artists at DreamWorks. I found that comment to be very exciting.”
When asked if he thought Donkey was a character that could support its own film, similar to the fighting feline spinoffs starring Antonio Banderas, Meledandri answered, “Without question.”
Fans of the franchise can expect to see “Shrek 5” in the near future, with the possibility of a Donkey spinoff on the horizon as well. The first “Shrek” film debuted in 2001 and was followed by sequels in 2004, 2007, and 2010. While Nicolas Cage was originally approached to voice the titular ogre prior to Mike Myers being cast, “Shrek” fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the original cast is set to return.