Eddie Murphy is franchise busy!
In a recent interview with Collider, Eddie Murphy confirmed his return to the world of Shrek, reprising his role as the beloved Donkey for not one, but two new projects. Murphy disclosed that he has already begun recording for “Shrek 5” and is set to star in a standalone Donkey spinoff film.
“We started doing Shrek four or five months ago,” Murphy revealed. “I recorded the first act, and we’ll be finishing it up this year. 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].”
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This announcement marks a significant return for Murphy’s beloved character, who last appeared in 2010’s “Shrek Forever After.” The Shrek franchise has been a monumental success since its inception, beginning with the original film in 2001, which grossed $487 million worldwide. The series’ second installment, “Shrek 2,” was even more successful, raking in $928 million globally.
While “Shrek the Third” and “Shrek Forever After” garnered slightly less acclaim than the first two films, they still performed exceptionally well at the box office, earning $813 million and $752 million worldwide, respectively. The franchise as a whole, including the successful “Puss in Boots” spinoff movies, has grossed over $4 billion, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of modern animation.
Murphy’s enthusiasm for the new projects is palpable. He has long advocated for a standalone Donkey film, believing his character’s comedic appeal rivals that of any other in the series. “Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots,” Murphy told ETalk last year. “I mean, I love Puss in Boots, but he ain’t funny as the Donkey.”
The timing of this new Shrek installment is fortuitous, as Cameron Diaz, who voiced Fiona in all four previous films, is set to return to acting later this year in Netflix’s “Back in Action.” This paves the way for the original cast to reunite and with Murphy already immersed in recording sessions for the upcoming projects, we can anticipate the return of Shrek and Donkey to the big screen, potentially as soon as 2025.