Universal Pictures has announced a strategic shift in its release schedule, moving Shrek 5 to December 23, 2026, and placing the Despicable Me spin-off, Minions 3, in its former slot on July 1, 2026. This adjustment aligns Minions 3 with the lucrative Independence Day box office, a tradition upheld by previous films in the Despicable Me series. Meanwhile, Shrek 5 is set to capitalize on the holiday season, marking its first mainline release in 16 years.

The development of Shrek 5 was first announced in 2016, but it wasn't until 2023 that Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination, confirmed its active progress alongside plans for a Donkey spin-off. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, provided further updates a year later, stating, "We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago. I did this, I recorded the first act, and we'll be doing it this year. We’ll finish it up. Shrek is coming out, and Donkey's gonna have his own movie. We're gonna do Donkey as well."

The release of Shrek 5 will coincide with the franchise's 25th anniversary, as the original Shrek film debuted in 2001. Subsequent sequels, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After, followed in 2004, 2007, and 2010, respectively.

Additionally, the Puss in Boots character has seen success with two spin-off films. The first, Puss in Boots, was released in 2011, and the sequel, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, arrived in 2022 to critical acclaim, earning a 9/10 from IGN. The review praised the film, stating, "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish mixes stunning animation with a poignant, surprisingly mature story to deliver the Shrek franchise's answer to Logan we didn't know we needed."