Shrek 5 in early development, original cast set to return

Prepare yourself. Over a decade on since the last film's release, Shrek is soon set to make a grand return in a fifth movie.

In an interview with Variety, the CEO of Illumination, Chris Meledandri, revealed that he’s currently pushing to bring back the original film’s, ahem, all-star cast, which included Mike Myers as everyone’s favourite ogre, Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Fiona.

Illumination is the animation studio behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is set to release in cinemas tomorrow (5 April). Take a look at the trailer below.

“It’s not that dissimilar to the process that we went through with [The Super Mario Bros. Movie], where you look at what the core elements are that audiences have loved, and you do your very best to honour those core elements,” Meledandri told Variety. “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.”

He continued: “We anticipate the cast coming back. Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”

While we’ve not had a new Shrek film since 2010’s Shrek Forever After, we’ve had two Puss in Boots spinoffs, including The Last Wish which released last year to rave reviews. Considering how well it did, it’s sure to be enticing for the original cast to return for Shrek 5.

One actor who clearly needs no convincing is Eddie Murphy. In an interview with Etalk from earlier this year, he said: “I’d absolutely be open if they ever came with another Shrek, I’d do it in two seconds. I love Donkey.”

Sadly, no deals have gone through just yet, but reportedly the negotiations with the original cast have been positive so far.