Zendaya has joined the cast of Shrek 5, in a major get for the franchise, as announced on the series’ official X page Thursday morning.
The in-demand actress plays the daughter of Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz). As previously announced, Eddie Murphy will also reprise his role in the new film as Donkey. Watch a teaser offering a first look at Zendaya’s character below.
Slated for release on December 23, 2026, Shrek 5 will be the first installment to hit theaters since Shrek Forever After all the way back in 2010. No word yet on the storyline.
Walt Dohrn (Trolls franchise), who worked on the second and third films as a writer and artist and as Head of Story on the fourth film, is directing alongside co-director Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru), with The Trolls franchise’s Gina Shay returning to produce alongside Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri (The Super Mario Bros. Movie). DreamWorks Animation first announced Shrek 5 via its social media channels last July.
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One of DreamWorks’ most celebrate animated franchises, Shrek is based on the 1990 picture book from writer and cartoonist William Steig. The franchise kicked off with the 2001 film that introduced viewers to Shrek, an ogre embarking on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona (Diaz). Winning the first Oscar for Best Animated Feature and grossing more than $488 million worldwide, the original’s success paved the way to sequels Shrek 2 (2004), where Shrek meets Fiona’s parents, and Shrek the Third (2007), which follows Shrek’s journey to find the next heir to the throne. The fourth installment, Shrek Forever After (2010), explores Shrek’s midlife crisis and his wish to erase his past.
The first four films earned more than $2.9 billion worldwide, spawning a global live-touring show, a Broadway musical that earned eight Tony nominations and 12 Drama Desk nominations, plus an immersive tourist destination in London and popular events and attractions across Universal Destinations & Experiences’ theme parks. The franchise also includes the spin-off Puss in Boots (2011) and its sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which was Oscar-nominated.
Most recently signing on for a role in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Zendaya is currently in production on the third season of Euphoria. For the starlet, Dune: Messiah and the next Spider-Man movie are also upcoming.
THR was first to the news of Zendaya’s Shrek casting.
Far, Far Away’s finest are coming. pic.twitter.com/7qn8FNIBT6
— Shrek (@Shrek) February 27, 2025
The post Zendaya Joins ‘Shrek 5’ As Ogre’s Daughter appeared first on Deadline.
