Shrek Returns With Zendaya
Shrek 5 Teaser Unveils Original Cast's Chaotic City Adventure; Zendaya Voices Daughter Felicia
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Key Points
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The teaser includes a specific line from Donkey teasing the premise as “off on another whirlwind big-city adventure,” framing the move from their swamp as a sudden, family-wide escalation rather than a planned vacation.
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Although Zendaya is confirmed to voice Shrek and Fiona’s daughter Felicia, multiple outlets note Felicia is notably absent from the teaser footage itself—fueling speculation about what her role is in the story.
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DreamWorks’ timeline details in at least one report put the theatrical release on December 23, 2026 (calling it the first theatrical Shrek since Shrek Forever After in 2010), and notes that DreamWorks first announced Shrek 5 via its social media channels in 2024.
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Behind the scenes, Deadline reports that Walt Dohrn and Brad Ableson direct, with Gina Shay returning to produce and Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri also producing alongside her—information not included in the provided summary.
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The teaser’s parody and needle-drops are tied to identifiable tracks: the Screen Rant breakdown highlights a Frozen jab where a “melting, sketchy snowman” asks Donkey, “You wanna date a snowman?” and then credits Donkey’s jail-cell singing with Player’s “Baby Come Back” and The Police’s “Roxanne.”
DreamWorks Animation dropped the first teaser for Shrek 5 on June 16, 2026, ending a 17-year gap since Shrek Forever After. The film is set for release on June 30, 2027, Variety confirmed. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all return as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona — and the family ends up behind bars after a "whirlwind big-city adventure" goes sideways.
Zendaya joins the cast as Felicia, Shrek and Fiona's teenage daughter. But despite her high-profile billing, Felicia is almost entirely absent from the teaser footage, according to Extra TV and Variety. Fan reaction has been split — some love the new look, others hate it.
Original Cast Returns After 17-Year Franchise Silence
The last mainline Shrek film came out in 2010. In the years since, DreamWorks leaned on spin-offs like Puss in Boots. Now the core crew is back. Myers, Murphy, and Diaz all reprise their roles. The franchise has earned over $2.997 billion across its four main films, according to Animation Magazine.
DreamWorks first teased the project in July 2024 with a short clip of an animated "5" topped with ogre ears and the Smash Mouth track "All Star." The studio set an original release date of July 1, 2026, but pushed the film twice — first to December 23, 2026, then again to June 30, 2027, Animation Magazine reported.
Zendaya's Felicia Is Missing From the Teaser Footage
Zendaya is confirmed to voice Felicia, Shrek and Fiona's daughter. Marcello Hernández voices Fergus and Skyler Gisondo voices Farkle — the now-grown sons. But Felicia does not appear in the teaser in any meaningful way. Extra TV analysts say keeping her out is a marketing tactic to build mystery around her character's role.
One report from Philstar Life suggests Felicia is briefly visible in a background shot riding a flying broomstick. Nothing about her story arc has been confirmed. The casting emphasis on a missing character has fueled speculation that Felicia is the emotional anchor of the film — or possibly the one who kicks off the big-city disaster.
Donkey Sings in Jail and a Snowman Mocks Frozen
The teaser leans hard into Shrek's signature move: hijacking famous songs for laughs. Donkey sings Player's 1977 hit "Baby Come Back" and The Police's "Roxanne" from inside a jail cell, according to Screen Rant. Shrek, sharing the cell, looks ready to explode.
The teaser also takes a direct shot at Disney. On the way to the city, the family meets a "melting, sketchy snowman" in a dark alley. It asks Donkey, "You wanna date a snowman?" — a twisted version of the Frozen song "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" Screen Rant and GeekTyrant both flagged the gag as a deliberate parody aimed at Disney's franchise.
Updated Animation Style Divides Fans Online
The new character designs have sparked a backlash. Some fans called the look "AI slop," according to NT News. Critics say the characters appear too smooth and "cartoony" compared to earlier films. World of Reel argued the designs feel less grounded than the originals.
Not everyone agrees. TheWrap noted the updated style works better in motion than in still frames, giving characters more emotional range. Walt Dohrn directs, with Brad Ableson — known for Minions: The Rise of Gru — as co-director. Gina Shay produces alongside Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri, Deadline reported.
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