Universal Pictures has offered fans their first look at the highly anticipated fifth instalment of the Shrek franchise, with a trailer revealing the titular ogre and his companion Donkey in an unexpected predicament: behind bars. The trailer, released on Tuesday, provides a glimpse into the new adventure which sees the beloved characters facing significant challenges, including their incarceration, and Donkey undergoing a bizarre transformation into a sheep.
The animated feature will see Mike Myers return as the voice of Shrek, with Cameron Diaz reprising her role as Princess Fiona, and Eddie Murphy once again lending his voice to Donkey. The new film also introduces fresh talent, with Hollywood actress Zendaya announced to voice Shrek and Fiona's daughter, Felicia. Marcello Hernandez and Skyler Gisondo will voice her brothers, Fergus and Farkle, expanding the ogre family's presence in the narrative.
The trailer opens with a storybook narrative, depicting Shrek and Donkey embarking on a journey to the magical city of Further, Further Away. This is quickly interrupted by Donkey, who appears in Shrek's swamp home alongside Fiona and the children, expressing excitement about an impending adventure and comically pondering a 'makeover'. The group is then seen travelling in their iconic onion-shaped carriage through a dark, stormy landscape, encountering fantastical elements such as a personified clock and mermaids.
A notable moment in the trailer features Gingerbread Man, Gingey, showcasing a new look, exclaiming, "I'm caked up like a friggin' bakery." The narrative then swiftly shifts to a police chase involving horse-drawn carriages, culminating in the shocking reveal of Donkey's transformation into a sheep, followed by Shrek, Fiona, Fergus, Farkle, and the sheep-Donkey all being thrown into a jail cell. The trailer concludes with the franchise's iconic anthem, 'All Star' by Smash Mouth, a song deeply embedded in the series' identity since the first film's release in 2001.
Shrek 5 is slated for release in 2025, marking nearly 17 years since its predecessor, Shrek: Forever After. The franchise, based on William Steig's 1990 book, has a rich history of critical and commercial success, including an Oscar win for its first film and multiple spin-off features like the Oscar-nominated 'Puss In Boots' films.