Eddie Murphy started work on Shrek 5, Donkey is getting spinoff film

 Eddie Murphy will be returning to yet another one of his signature roles not just once but twice.

The 63-year-old comedy legend – who recently was joined by three of his ten children at his latest premiere – revealed that he not only has already started work on Shrek 5 but his character Donkey will also be getting his own spinoff film.

He talked about the next steps for the highly-popular animated film series in a new interview with Collider as he said: ‘We started doing Shrek [5] four or five months ago.

‘I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up.’

Though there were rumors that Shrek 5 had been in the works since April 2023 it had not yet been confirmed up until this point. 

Eddie also revealed that he was not doing voicework for the  two films simultaneously as he explained: ‘Another Shrek is coming out, and Donkey’s gonna have his own movie.

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‘I think [Shrek 5 is] coming out in 2025, and we’re doing a Donkey one next.’

In April 2023, it was reported that Shrek 5 was in development with Eddie, Mike Myers, and Cameron Diaz all in talks to reprise their roles

In an interview with Variety at the time, Chris Meledandri, 64, the founder and CEO of Illumination, confirmed that although no one had yet signed on the dotted line but talks were underway for the project. 

‘We anticipate the cast coming back,’ the executive said at the time.

‘Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return,’ he added.

The first Shrek, released in 2001, was a huge success and won the Oscar for Best Animated feature. 

Meledandri said he was thrilled when he read comments to the outlet from Murphy in, who said he would be game for a Donkey spin-off, after the success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

The animated adventure starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek had earned $186.09million domestically and $295.61million international for a worldwide total of $481.71million

‘If [DreamWorks] ever came with another Shrek,’ Eddie previously said, ‘I’d do it in two seconds.’

The A-lister even showed interest in a potential spinoff for his character as he said:  ‘I love Donkey. 

‘They did Puss In Boots movies. I was like, “They should have done a Donkey movie.”‘

‘Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots,’ the star contended. ‘I mean, I love Puss in Boots, but he ain’t funny as the Donkey.’

One element that would have prevented Shrek 5 to coming into fruition was that Cameron Diaz, 51, had stepped back from acting in 2014 and announced her retirement four years.

However her comeback role is opposite Jamie Foxx in action-comedy Back In Action which is set to stream on Netflix in November.