For nearly two decades, Donkey has been one of the most beloved characters in animated film history. As the chatty, hilarious and endlessly lovable sidekick from the Shrek films, he has always been at the heart of the franchise’s biggest moments. Now, that is finally about to change. DreamWorks Animation has officially confirmed Donkey, a standalone spin-off centered entirely on Eddie Murphy’s fan-favorite character, which is set to arrive in theaters on June 30, 2028.
Donkey is being described as an origin story that goes back to the very beginning, exploring how the character became the Donkey audiences have come to know and love. It will mark the character’s first solo film. Throughout the Shrek franchise, Donkey has appeared in all four main films as well as both Puss in Boots movies, but he has never headlined a story of his own. That will finally change in 2028.
The film will be directed by Charlie Bean, who previously directed The LEGO Ninjago Movie and Disney’s live-action Lady and the Tramp. Matt Flynn, an experienced DreamWorks story artist who most recently worked on The Bad Guys 2, will serve as co-director. Rebecca Huntley, producer of Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Bad Guys 2, is producing the project. Together, they bring extensive experience in animated storytelling and are well acquainted with the DreamWorks style.
The Shrek franchise remains one of the biggest animated properties ever created. The original film, released in 2001, became an instant classic, grossing nearly $500 million worldwide and becoming the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It was followed by Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010). Beyond the films, the franchise expanded into Broadway musicals, live touring shows, video games, and theme park attractions. Collectively, the franchise has generated more than $2.9 billion at the global box office.
Before Donkey steps into the spotlight, audiences will first return to the world of Far Far Away with Shrek 5, which is scheduled for release in summer 2027, one year ahead of Donkey. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz are all returning to voice Shrek, Donkey and Fiona, while Zendaya joins the cast as Felicia, the daughter of Shrek and Fiona. The film will be directed by franchise veterans Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn, setting the stage for DreamWorks’ next chapter in the Shrek universe.
Donkey has long been one of the franchise’s most memorable characters, with Eddie Murphy’s energetic voice performance becoming one of the defining elements of the series. Giving the character his own film allows DreamWorks to explore his backstory while expanding one of animation’s most successful franchises in a new direction.
DreamWorks is clearly making a deliberate effort to bring the Shrek franchise back to theaters in a major way. With Shrek 5 arriving in 2027 and Donkey following in 2028, the studio is positioning one of its most successful animated franchises for a sustained return to the big screen.
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