Eddie Murphy is set to reprise his iconic role as Donkey in a new spin-off film titled ‘Donkey’, which delves into the origins of the beloved character from the Shrek universe. This project, confirmed by DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, is scheduled for release on June 30, 2028, exactly one year following the premiere of Shrek 5.
Since the original Shrek debuted in 2001, Donkey has remained a fan-favorite presence, known for his talkative nature and comedic charm. The upcoming spin-off aims to shed light on how this memorable character came to be, offering audiences an expanded view of his backstory within the fairy-tale world.
The film will be directed by Charlie Bean, whose previous credits include The Lego Batman Movie and Disney’s live-action Lady and the Tramp. He will be collaborating with co-director Matt Flynn, known for his work on recent DreamWorks titles such as Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Wild Robot. Production responsibilities will be overseen by Rebecca Huntley, who recently contributed to Kung Fu Panda 4.
A Broader Return to Far, Far Away
The announcement of Donkey forms part of a wider resurgence of the Shrek franchise. Prior to this spin-off, DreamWorks and Universal plan to release Shrek 5 on June 30, 2027, continuing the saga of the beloved ogre and his companions.