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‘Shrek 5’ Release Date, Spoilers: Is the Movie Project Canceled?

From the official trailer of "Shrek Forever After" | Photo by DreamWorks/YouTube

It has been so long since fans last heard from DreamWorks about the production of “Shrek 5.” It is then quite understandable for some people to ask whether or not the project is still in the pipeline.

At this point, there is both good and bad news. The good one is that DreamWorks has never announced canceling “Shrek 5.” So that is one indication that the studio is likely still working on it at some capacity. The only downside is the latest official update about the movie came in late 2018.

The making of “Shrek 5” came to light after NBCUniversal acquired DreamWorks in 2016. Summer of that year, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that a fifth movie of the comedic fairy tale franchise is one of the projects listed following the acquisition. At the time, it was even reported that “Shrek 5” is slated to be released in 2019.

Then, come March 2017, an update was given by the producers suggesting that “Shrek 5” may not be a direct sequel after all. But the good thing is screenwriter Michael McCullers still confirmed at the time that the film is still in the works.

“‘Shrek 5’ is being developed. I finished that script, which I really, really, really love. It’s really personal to me. It’s got a pretty big reinvention behind it that I guess I can’t really reveal,” McCullers told THR in 2017. “Reinvention was sort of called for. There’s been four movies and a lot of material, so the characters are pretty beloved and they’re great characters, but you also have to think of a pretty new take at that point.”

Just hearing the word “reinvention” already hints at developing “Shrek 5” as not exactly a direct sequel to the fourth film released in 2010. Last year, it was announced that Illumination boss Chris Meledandri will head the production of the fifth movie and once again hinted at making a franchise reboot with it.

“When you look back on those vocal performances they’re awesome, and while you certainly could make a case for a complete reinvention, I find myself responding to my own nostalgic feelings of wanting to go back to those characterizations,” Meledandri told Variety when asked about “Shrek 5.” “The challenge for us has been to find something that really does feel like it’s not simply yet another film in a series of sequels.”

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