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It’s no surprise that Zendaya has been reaching new heights in her career. After all, she is one of the finest actresses this generation has to offer. Starting from Shake It Up, she has effortlessly transitioned from a Disney star to a Hollywood powerhouse. From serving iconic red carpet looks to owning every character she plays, Zendaya has proven time and time again that she truly is a force to reckon with. And now, she is reportedly adding yet another iconic role to her portfolio.

Zendaya in a still from Challengers (2024) | Credits: Amazon MGM Studios

Zendaya’s love for the Shrek franchise is no secret. If the reports are true, the actress is finally going to become a part of the animated world she loves so much!

Zendaya might be playing a role in Shrek 5 The Shrek franchise | Credits: DreamWorks Animation

The upcoming Shrek 5 is going to...

Deadline reports that Eddie Murphy is set to star in Blue Falcon, an action comedy scripted by Chad St. John (London Has Fallen). Murphy will be playing a “retired superspy who heads for the destination wedding of his estranged son, and finds himself in proximity with his archrival.” It makes me think of that Andy Warhol quote: “In the future, everyone will play a retired superspy.” I think that’s how it went.

Blue Falcon will be produced by Davis Films’ John Davis, Cliff Roberts through Syndicate Entertainment, and Murphy and Charisse Hewitt-Webster through Eddie Murphy Productions.

Related Eddie Murphy to get down as George Clinton in an upcoming biopic from Dreamgirls director Bill Condon

Murphy most recently reprised his role as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, but he has plenty of other upcoming projects on his slate. He’s set to reunite with Dreamgirls director Bill...

Deadline (via Toonado.com) has learned that Shrek 5 is now set to open on Wednesday, December 23, 2026. The long-awaited sequel had originally been scheduled for July 1, 2026, so while this delay isn't too big, those extra five months are going to sting for impatient Shrek fans.

On the plus side, Minions 3 has shifted from June 30, 2027, to that July 1 slot. That's a huge jump forward and an indication work on the movie must be progressing well.

It's also been revealed that an untitled Illumination event movie has moved from March 19, 2027 to Minions 3's vacant June date.

Shrek 5 is being released to coincide with DreamWorks' 25th anniversary, with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz all set to reprise their respective roles as Shrek, Donkey and Fiona. Shrek franchise veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon will be at the movie's helm.

Dorhn worked on the second and third movies as...

Universal Pictures is making exciting changes to its animation release schedule, giving fans something to look forward to from two beloved franchises.

DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5 is now set to hit theaters on December 23, 2026, moving from its original summer release date of July 1, 2026. The holiday release will align perfectly with the franchise’s 25th anniversary, bringing back the voices of Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, and Cameron Diaz as Fiona.

Directed by longtime franchise contributors Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon, the movie will also feature Brad Ableson as co-director. Producers include Gina Shay and Chris Meledandri, who are known for their work on other successful animated projects like Trolls and Minions.

Since its debut in 2001, the Shrek franchise has earned over $2.9 billion globally and has become a cultural phenomenon, spawning musicals, theme park attractions, and even a global touring show. The last installment, Shrek Forever After,...

Universal Pictures changed its animation schedule on Friday by moving the release dates for two of its most popular franchises. ‘Minions 3’ will come out earlier than planned, and ‘Shrek 5′ has been pushed back to the winter holidays of 2026.

The intended release date for “Minions 3” was June 30, 2027, but it will now be July 1, 2026. This move puts it during the busy Independence Day weekend. The choice came after the huge success of the Despicable Me franchise. It has made over $5 billion at the box office worldwide, making it the highest-grossing animated film series ever.

The creative people of the first two films will return to the third Minions film. You can count on Pierre Coffin to return as the movie’s director and to voice the famous yellow figures. Brian Lynch wrote the script. He is known for writing “The Secret Life of Pets.” The movie is also being worked...

The grand return of Shrek will have to wait a little longer. Universal Pictures has pushed back the release of Shrek 5, which will now open on December 23, 2026, instead of July 1, 2025.

Taking Shrek‘s old release date will be Illumination’s Minions 3. The film was previously slated for June 30, 2027, but will now hit theaters on July 1, 2026. An untitled Illumination event movie has also shifted, moving from March 19, 2027 to June 30, 2027.

It’s been fifteen years since the release of Shrek Forever Ever, but the gang is all back for the new sequel. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are returning to reprise their roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona, with Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon set to direct. Dohrn worked as a writer on Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third and was also head of story on the fourth movie. He also voiced Rumpelstiltskin. Vernon previously co-directed Shrek 2...

You’ll have to wait a little longer to learn if all that glitters is gold.

Universal has announced that DreamWorks Animation’s “Shrek 5” will be moving from July 1, 2026, to Dec. 23, 2026. In its place, Universal will open Illumination’s “Minions 3,” which was previously supposed to come out a year later. That’s the kind of chaotic scheduling a minion would really embrace.

Additionally, an untitled Illumination film has moved from March 19, 2027 to June 30, 2027 (the previous “Minions 3” date).

“Shrek 5” sees Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz returning to their iconic roles. The movie will release as part of the franchise’s 25th anniversary. The new movie will be directed by the previously announced Walt Dohrn and the newly announced Conrad Vernon, both veterans of the franchise. Dohrn worked on the second and third “Shrek” films as a writer and on the fourth film as head of story.

Universal Pictures is adjusting its movie release calendar for upcoming titles from two venerable animation franchises.

The studio announced Friday that DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5 is now set for release on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2026, after previously having been dated for July 1, 2026. Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon are directing Shrek 5 with Brad Ableson as co-director. Gina Shay and Chris Meledandri produce the film that sees the return of voice stars Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey) and Cameron Diaz (Fiona).

In a twinned move, Minions 3 from Illumination is now set to hit theaters on July 1, 2026, moving up from its previously planned release date of June 30, 2027. Pierre Coffin, who directed the first three Despicable Me films and the first Minions spinoff movie, is helming Minions 3 from a script from Brian Lynch. Coffin voices the yellow mischief-makers that were introduced as sidekicks to former supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) in the 2010 title Despicable Me.

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5 will now open on Wednesday, December 23, 2026, instead of July 1 next year.

At the same time, the studio said Friday it is moving up Illumination’s Minions 3 from June 30, 2027 to Shrek 5‘s previous July 2026 date. That’s because the Minions and Gru have ruled the Independence Day frame for quite some time, most recently with Despicable Me 4 minting a $230M global opening last summer.

Another shift going on at Universal: an untitled Illumination event movie will move from March 19, 2027 to Wednesday June 30, 2027.

Shrek 5 is timed to Dwa’s 25th anniversary. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz as reported are reprising their roles as Shrek, Donkey and Fiona, respectively. Directors are Shrek franchise veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon. Dohrn (Trolls franchise) worked on the second and third Shrek films as a writer and artist and as Head...

Shrek and the Minions will both be on the big screen in 2026.

Universal Pictures announced Friday that the highly-anticipated animated movies are swapping their theatrical release dates, with DreamWorks Animation’s “Shrek 5” pushing back from July 1, 2026 to Wednesday, Dec. 23, while Illumination’s “Minions 3” moves into that summer 2026 window from its planned June 30, 2027 date.

Universal has also shifted the release of an untitled Illumination event film from March 19, 2027 to the June date.

While December 2026 might seem far, far away, “Shrek 5” arrives in time for the franchise’s 25th anniversary and marks the grand return of original “Shrek” stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz to voice Shrek, Donkey and Fiona.

Beginning with 2001’s “Shrek” (which won the first Oscar for best animated feature), the four “Shrek” films have earned more than $2.9 billion worldwide, spawning a global live-touring show and an award-winning Broadway musical that earned eight Tony nominations and 12 Drama Desk nominations,...

When it comes to the holiday season, there are often debates about the best Christmas movies, but there are also plenty of short Christmas movies for fans of seasonal fare. Christmas movies are often set in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, many feature holiday music, and most of them feature a celebration and a lesson learned for the audience. Of course, not all Christmas movies fall into those exact categories.

There are a variety of shorts that appeal to kids, others that appeal to adults, and still more that appeal to the whole family. The best Christmas-themed short movies can fall into any of those categories, and surprisingly, many of them are even animated.

Related 17 Best Christmas Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked

From Krampus to Klaus, these festive favorites were the best Christmas movies of the past decade.

Trolls Holiday (2017) A Fun Take On A New Franchise’s Holiday...

The biggest year in animation, especially in regards to movies, is coming very soon. 2024 has had and continues to have several standout releases and upcoming films in the animation category, including Kung Fu Panda 4, Inside Out 2, and The Wild Robot. While not every release, such as The Garfield Movie, was successful with audiences and critics, this year still showcased some strong new stories and the return of many iconic animated movie characters.

That being said, 2026 is an exciting year for animated movies as several franchises expand their stories with upcoming installments that could add new narrative layers. Several animation studios have announced the continuation of many of their popular titles, keeping a lot of these stories alive for new generations. Others lack specific details about their casts and main storylines, but are still exciting possible additions to the lineup nonetheless. All of these, in short, make 2026 a huge...

Fans of the Trolls franchise are waiting expectantly for Trolls 4, the next installment in the magical, musical hit children's series. Jumping on the lucrative bandwagon of movies based on toy brands, Trolls premiered in 2016, starring Justin Timberlake as Branch and Anna Kendrick as Princess Poppy. It's no coincidence that those two leads are talented singers as the Trolls franchise is also a musical, sing-a-long series that features kidified versions of popular songs. The soundtracks of Trolls Band Together, Trolls World Tour, and Trolls are reason enough to see the movies.

Just about every four years, a new Trolls movie has come out with Trolls World Tour premiering on April 10, 2020, and Trolls Band Together on November 17, 2023. The series has been critically successful, with the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score being 63% for Trolls Band Together. The first and third Trolls films earned over $200 million each and Trolls World Tour's lower earnings can be...

Trolls Band Together features new villains Velvet and Veneer, voiced by recognizable actors, joining the beloved characters in the franchise. The impressive cast, catchy songs, and fun animation in Trolls Band Together led to a 63% Rotten Tomatoes rating and $209M global box office. The ensemble of vocal artists in Trolls Band Together includes Emmy-winning, Golden Globe, and Grammy-winning actors, making the film a musical treat.

The beloved characters from the Trolls franchise are joined by two new villains, Velvet and Veneer in Trolls Band Together, and like the other characters, are voiced by some recognizable actors. Trolls Band Together is the third movie in the animated musical Trolls franchise. The film once again stars Branch (Justin Timberlake) and Poppy (Anna Kendrick), who set out to find Branch's four older brothers to restart their family band, BroZone. However, two villainous Mount Rageon teenagers, Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells), also...

Eddie Murphy would like to do one movie combining every role he's done.The 63-year-old actor is thrilled to be reprising his role as Donkey in the upcoming fifth movie in the DreamWorks Animation franchise, and would love to reprise any one of his roles as long as the right script came along.He told Australia's Who magazine: "Sure. We're just doing another Shrek, which is going to be great. We already did Coming 2 America and we're working on a new script for another movie right now. But I like the idea of maybe doing a mash-up movie with all my characters and have me play them all. That would be fun. But if the idea is good and the script is right, I would return to any one of my characters again."Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie are all on board to reprise their roles for the next instalment,...

Can you believe it’s been a hop, skip, and a dragon’s flight away since we last embarked on an ogre-sized adventure with our favorite swamp-dwelling hero? Well, mark your calendars because our affection for Shrek, the wisecracking Donkey, and the fierce Princess Fiona is about to be rekindled with the much-anticipated Shrek 5 on the horizon!

With the original star-studded cast, including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, set to reprise their iconic roles, the film promises to be a jubilant parade of emotions and laughter.

Princess Fiona and Shrek | DreamWorks Pictures

As the franchise approaches its twenty-third anniversary this year, theories about Myers’ appearance in this beloved universe have emerged, with fans speculating on a poignant narrative in which Shrek must navigate the waters of change and the bittersweet symphony of growing old.

Shrek 5 Prediction: A Reddit Theory Spills the Beans

Get ready to dust...

DreamWorks Animation has officially announced that Shrek 5 is in development, and is set to hit theaters on July 1, 2026.

Original voice actors Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey) and Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona) are all set to return, but we're not sure if Antonio Banderas will be back as Puss in Boots despite the massive success of his recent solo adventure, The Last Wish.

The movie will be helmed by Walt Dohrn, who served as a writer and artist on Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, and as head of story on Shrek Forever After, in which he also voiced Rumpelstiltskin. Shrek 5 will be produced by franchise regular Gina Shay and Illumination founder Chris Meledandri; Brad Ableson will serve as co-director.

The original Shrek was a massive success for DreamWorks Animation, grossing $487 million worldwide. The movie also became the first Oscar winner in the animated feature category. Shrek 2...

DreamWorks Animation has more green in its future.

The studio announced on Tuesday that the beloved franchise “Shrek” is coming back to theaters with a fifth installment. What’s more, “Shrek 5” has planted its flag on a date two years hence—July 1, 2026, to be precise. The studio made its declaration via social media, deploying Smash Mouth’s “All Star” and its earworm herald of “someBODY once told me.” An ogre-ifi-ed numeral 5 then did a little dance.

Not too Far, Far Away… @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. pic.twitter.com/3j6ctXpPGu

— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) July 9, 2024

Confirmed for the voices are Mike Myers, the titular gassy ogre with a pure heart, Cameron Diaz as his beloved Princess Fiona, and Eddie Murphy as Donkey, the wisecracking donkey. It is unclear if Antonio Banderas, who voices Puss in Boots, will make an appearance.

We have the ability to contain our excitement for Shrek news — what we lack is the capacity! It’s been 14 long years since Shrek Forever After closed the fairytale book on DreamWorks’ beloved green-eared franchise, but now — coming off the back of the astonishingly great Puss In Boots: The Last Wish — the animation studio’s long-gestating fivequel has set a release date. As reported by THR, Shrek 5 is set to hit cinemas on 1 July, 2026, coinciding with the first film’s anniversary. And better yet, the original quadrilogy’s All Star cast — Mike Myers! Cameron Diaz! Eddie Murphy! — are back back back, too.

Plot details for this one are currently under wraps (presumably in the highest room of the tallest tower), but Puss In Boots: The Last Wish *did* end with the swashbuckling Spanish kitty setting sail for Far, Far Away, so don’t be surprised if Antonio Banderas’ name...

El estreno de ‘Shrek 5’ coincidirá con el 25 aniversario de la primera película.

“Shrek 5” ya es una realidad y está oficialmente en marcha. Los fans del inconfundible ogro verde podrán volver a disfrutar de las aventuras de Shrek, Fiona y Asno, a los que pondrán voz el reparto original, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz y Eddie Murphy. Aún no se ha confirmado el regreso de Antonio Banderas como el Gato con Botas.

La dirección de “Shrek 5” estará a cargo de Walt Dohrn, que tiene una larga trayectoria en la franquicia. Dohrn trabajó como guionista y artista en “Shrek 2” y “Shrek Tercero”, y como jefe de historia en “Shrek para Siempre”, donde también puso voz al personaje Rumpelstiltskin. Además, la quinta entrega estará codirigida por Brad Ableson, conocido por su trabajo en “Los Simpson” y “Minions: El Origen de Gru”.

“Shrek 5” se estrena en cines el 1 de julio de 2026.

¡SÍGUENOS!

'Shrek 5' will be released in two years time.Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy are all on board to reprise their roles for the next installment in the franchise, DreamWorks Animation have confirmed, with the movie set to hit cinemas on 1 July 2026, 16 years after the release of the fourth film, 'Shrek Forever After'.The studio confirmed the news on X.A spokesperson wrote: “Not too Far, Far Away… @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz.”Walt Dohrn, who previously worked as writer and artist on the second and third movies and was Head of Story on the fourth, will direct the film, with Brad Ableson as co-director. Gina Shay is returning to produce alongside Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri.The confirmation comes a month after Eddie confirmed work had started on the film, and that his character Donkey will be getting a spin-off movie.

In exciting news for everyone who loved the original Shrek films, DreamWorks just announced Shrek 5 is officially happening! Mark your calendars for July 1, 2026, because that’s when we’ll see our favorite big, green ogre return to theaters.

Even better, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are all reprising their roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona. I can’t wait to hear their iconic voices again! DreamWorks dropped a teaser too that plays “All Star” and says “The All-Star Returns.” Looks like they aim to capture that same magic from the first movie.

Not too Far, Far Away… @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. pic.twitter.com/3j6ctXpPGu

— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) July 9, 2024

Veteran Shrek director Walt Dohrn is helming the project this time around. He’s worked on past movies in the franchise, so the tone should feel very familiar.

It’s finally happening! After 14 years we have an announcement for a another “Shrek” film. “Shrek 5” will be released on July 1, 2026!

This announcement was hinted at last month by Eddie Murphy who plays Donkey. He also said that a Donkey spin-off was also in development.

During an interview with Collider, Murphy said:

“We started doing Shrek 4 or [correction] 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. So we’re gonna do a Shrek, and we’re doing a Donkey movie.“

Today, Dreamworks Animation posted this on X.

Not too Far, Far Away… @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. pic.twitter.com/3j6ctXpPGu

— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) July 9, 2024

From the post,...

It's finally official: "Shrek 5" is happening. Indeed, after tons of speculation, rumors, and anticipation, one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood has been confirmed by the powers that be. Universal Pictures and DreamWorks have announced that the fifth direct installment in the beloved animated franchise will hit theaters on July 1, 2026. Not only that, but the original central cast will be returning, with Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Fiona), and Eddie Murphy (Donkey) back in the saddle.

Not too Far, Far Away... @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. pic.twitter.com/3j6ctXpPGu

— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) July 9, 2024

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Walt Dohrn is on board to direct. He served as the writer of "Shrek 2" and "Shrek the Third." Meanwhile, "Minions: The Rise of Gru" co-director Brad Ableson will serve as the co-director. Gina Shay and Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri are producing.

Universal Pictures has announced that the studio will release DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5 in theaters on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

Arriving in theaters in time to celebrate its 25th anniversary, DreamWorks Animation will invite audiences back to a land Far, Far Away for a thrilling new adventure in one of the most beloved global animated franchises of all time.

Comedy legends Mike Myers, Oscar nominee Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz return to their signature roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona.

Shrek 5 will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker and Shrek franchise veteran 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. (Dohrn also voiced the character of Rumpelstiltskin in Shrek Forever After).

The film will be produced by returning producer Gina Shay (Trolls franchise), who produced Shrek Forever After, and by Illumination CEO and Academy Award nominee Chris Meledandri.

Universal Pictures has set a July 1 2026 release date for DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5 featuring original cast members Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz.

The date announcement gives the celebrated animation franchise a five-day July Fourth US holiday weekend launchpad and marks the first entry in the 23-year-old series since Shrek Forever After came out in 2010.

Myers voices the eponymous green ogre, while Diaz, who has returned to acting after a long lay-off, plays his love Princess Fiona, and Murphy is Shrek’s sidekick, Donkey.

The studio revealed the news on social media. It follows recent comments by Murphy...

A fifth Shrek film is in the works, with stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz set to return, DreamWorks Animation announced via its social media channels on Tuesday.

“Not too Far, Far Away…” wrote a spokesperson for the studio on X. “@Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz.”

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, will direct Shrek 5. The Trolls franchise’s Gina Shay is returning to produce alongside Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri (The Super Mario Bros. Movie), with Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru) co-directing.

Murphy hinted that the project was in motion in a video interview with Collider just last month. “We started doing Shrek four or five months ago,” he said. “I recorded the first act,...

DreamWorks has officially announced Shrek 5: the long-anticipated sequel is set for release in theaters on July 1st, 2026, with original cast members Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all returning.

Shrek 5 will mark the first new installment of the beloved animated franchise in 16 years. The film was initially slated for release following Shrek Forever After in 2010, but those plans were scrapped by former DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. With NBCUniveral’s purchase of DreamWorks in 2016, however, there’s been a renewed focus to bring Shrek back to the big screen — though it’s taken a bit longer than anticipated.

In 2022, DreamWorks released the Shrek spin-off film, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which included a mid-credits scene that set the stage for Shrek 5. It was later revealed that Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri would be developing the story for Shrek 5, with Michael McCullers (The Boss Baby) writing its screenplay.

Shrek 5 is officially a go, with Universal and DreamWorks Animation announcing that the storied franchise will return on July 1, 2026. Stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz will return 25 years after the original Shrek hit theaters.

The feature has long been in development and will arrive 16 years after previous entry, Shrek Forever After, which bowed in 2010 and earned $752.6 million globally.

Walt Dohrn will direct after working as a writer on the second and third films, and as head of story on the fourth film. Minions: The Rise of Gru co-director Brad Ableson will co-direct, with Shrek Forever After producer Gina Shay and Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri producing.

The Shrek film franchise began life under Jeffrey Katzenberg’s tutelage with the 2001 film that was praised for its animation style and for playing with fairy-tale tropes. It centered on an ogre named Shrek (Myers), who falls for Fiona (Diaz), the princess...

We’re going back to the swamp.

DreamWorks Animation has announced that “Shrek 5” is officially in development, with a far, far away release date of July 1, 2026. Original “Shrek” stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz are all confirmed to return.

Not too Far, Far Away… @Shrek 5 is coming to theaters on July 1, 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. pic.twitter.com/3j6ctXpPGu

— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) July 9, 2024

Antonio Banderas’ return as the feisty feline Puss in Boots is not yet confirmed. “Shrek 5” will be directed by Walt Dohrn, who served as a writer and artist on “Shrek 2” and “Shrek the Third,” and as head of story on “Shrek Forever After,” in which he also voiced Rumpelstiltskin. “Shrek 5” will be produced by franchise returner Gina Shay and Illumination founder Chris Meledandri; Brad Ableson serves as co-director.

Murphy let it slip in June that he...

Lord Farquaad should have appeared in Shrek Forever After's alternate timeline but was completely left out. Farquaad might have found a new princess to marry in the changed timeline, offering a potentially happy ending for him. It remains a mystery what happened to Farquaad during the alternate timeline, leaving it up to the audience's imagination.

Lord Farquaad was the first villain in the Shrek franchise, and thanks to the alternate timeline in Shrek Forever After, he should have appeared in it, but he was completely left out. In 2001, DreamWorks released the animated fantasy comedy Shrek, loosely based on the 1990 book by William Steig. Shrek was such a massive critical and commercial success that it established DreamWorks as a competitor to Pixar in the world of animation and made way for a media franchise covering spinoffs, short films, a musical, and more.

The main Shrek saga is formed by Shrek,...

Trolls Band Together will be available for streaming on March 15 exclusively on Peacock. The film made $207 million worldwide, falling short of the original's $347 million. Given the franchise's past success on streaming, Trolls Band Together is expected to do well.

The streaming release date has been revealed for Trolls Band Together. Released in theaters on November 17, 2023, Trolls Band Together is the third film in the Trolls series, which began in 2016. Trolls Band Together is directed by Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz and features a leading voice cast of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Kenan Thompson, director Dohrn, Anderson .Paak, Ron Funches, and Kunal Nayyar.

As per DreamWorks, Trolls Band Together has now been given a streaming release date. Trolls Band Together will become available for streaming on March 15.

✨🚨 March 15 🚨✨ Set your reminder now - #TrollsBandTogether is streaming in less than Two Weeks, only on @peacock. pic.twitter.com...

Take a look at more footage from "Trolls Band Together", the new DreamWorks CG-animated 'jukebox musical comedy' feature, directed by Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz, starring Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, streaming March 15, 2024 on Peacock:

"...this holiday season, get ready for an action-packed, all-star, family reunion like no other as Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake return for the new chapter in DreamWorks Animation's blockbuster musical franchise: 'Trolls Band Together'..."

Click the images to enlarge...

The Trolls are coming home for their latest adventure. Universal Pictures has announced that "Trolls Band Together" will soon be available to stream on Peacock, meaning it will be readily available to watch from the comfort of one's couch. But for those who don't have Peacock, there are fortunately several options available to those who want to watch the third entry in the hit DreamWorks franchise based on the popular toys.

"Trolls Band Together" will be available on Peacock beginning Friday, March 15, and there will be a sing-along version hitting the streaming service at the same time. Those who want to watch Nsync reunite sooner (or simply don't want to subscribe to another streaming service) can rent or purchase the movie digitally now through their digital retailer of choice. The film is available through Google Play, Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, and a variety of other online marketplaces. It's available...

Peacock announced on Thursday that the jukebox musical threequel Trolls Band Together from Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation will debut exclusively on the platform on March 15, following a run in theaters that saw it gross over $208 million worldwide.

Released last November, the animated feature watches as protagonist troll Poppy (Anna Kendrick) grows closer to her now boyfriend Branch (Justin Timberlake), thereafter discovering his secret past as a member of her favorite boy band, BroZone, with his four estranged brothers. When Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious popstars, Branch and Poppy embark on an action-packed journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd. Along the way, Poppy uncovers a family secret of her own, a long-lost sister named Viva (Camila Cabello).

Pic’s all-star cast also includes Eric André, Kid Cudi, Daveed Diggs, Troye Sivan, Amy Schumer, Andrew Rannells, RuPaul Charles,...

The Netflix streaming service has just unveiled their 2024 line-up of film and TV show releases – and the list is so long, we’ve had to split it into two separate articles. While the TV show line-up can be found in another article here on JoBlo.com, in this one we’re focusing on the films Netflix will be releasing, including the long-awaited fourth entry in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, a sequel to The Platform, a time travel slasher movie, Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, an animated film scripted by Charlie Kaufman, Zack Snyder’s second Rebel Moon movie, and much more.

Here we go, with thanks to Deadline:

Orion And The Dark (Feb 2)

Orion seems a lot like your average elementary school kid –– shy, unassuming, harboring a secret crush. But underneath his seemingly normal exterior, Orion is a ball of adolescent anxiety, completely consumed by irrational fears of bees,...

Here, in all its glory, is Netflix’s long list of movies premiering on the streamer in 2024, and there’s quite a few gems. While Netflix tries to program an event film each quarter, there’s clearly more star-studded pics than that as that’s what gets subscribers to click.

Of note, dates have been announced for five features including the Eddie Murphy fourthquel Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (July 3), the animated Nickelodeon Latino title The Casagrandes Movie, (March 22), the cartoon movie Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp (April 12), the Mark Waters-directed Brooke Shields and Miranda Cosgrove title Mother of the Bride (May 9), and the Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry action title The Union (August 16).

Also on deck is Amblin’s first movie under its Netflix deal, the Taron Egerton Tsa thriller Carry On, the Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz action movie Back in Action, franchise movies like Zack Snyder...

The latest trailer for Netflix and DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming animated film, Orion and the Dark, has Ike Barinholtz voicing the role of Light, Dark’s nemesis, as Orion, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, learns there’s nothing to be afraid of in the night.

“Everyday I bring brightness and hope to the world, and you bring the exact opposite,” Light tells Dark, voiced by Paul Walter Hauser, as their comic light versus darkness battle plays out while an anxious Orion confronts his greatest fears in life.

“Oh, whatever!” a gloomy Dark responds as his unlikely friendship with Orion grows as Tremblay’s character must shed his adolescent anxiety over much in life to overcome his worst fear: the dark. The moral of their journey together is stop letting fear control your life and embrace the joy of living.

Based on Emma Yarlett’s book and written by Being John Malkovich scribe Charlie Kaufman,...

Charlie Kaufman is bringing more neuroses to Netflix, this time with an animated twist.

The “Adaptation” screenwriter penned the adaptation of YA novel “Orion and the Dark” for the streaming platform. Jacob Tremblay voices the title character Orion, who is an anxiety-ridden elementary schooler trying to get over his fear of the dark. Turns out, the Dark is actually a physical entity (Paul Walter Hauser) who brings Orion on an adventure to confront his fears, ranging from clowns, fireworks, and ghouls.

“Orion, I’m going to get you to overcome your fears if it kills me,” the Dark says in the trailer.

Angela Bassett, Colin Hanks, Natasia Demetriou, Golda Rosheuvel, Nat Faxon, Aparna Nancherla, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gugino, Matt Dellapina, Nick Kishiyama, Mia Akemi Brown, Shannon Chan-Kent, and Jack Fisher also star. Werner Herzog narrates the film.

Animator Sean Charmatz marks his feature directorial debut with the DreamWorks and Netflix film.

L to R: Tiny Diamond (Keenan Thompson) and Mr. Dinkles (Walt Dohrn) in Trolls Band Together, directed by Walt Dohrn. Kenan Thompson has been part of the Trolls franchise since the second movie, Trolls World Tour, and he’s also appeared in a number of projects related to the series. He’s back again for the latest film, Trolls Band Together, and he’s excited to one again see the franchise on the big screen. As he told us, one of his favorite things about the Trolls is the attention to even the smallest details. (Click on the media bar below to hear Kenan Thompson) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Keenan_Thompson_Favorit_Trolsl_movies_.mp3 Trolls Band Together is now playing in theaters.

The post Kenan Thompson Loves ‘Trolls’ Down To The Last Detail appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Take a look at more footage from "Trolls Band Together", the new DreamWorks CG-animated 'jukebox musical comedy' feature, directed by Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz, starring Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, now playing in theaters:

"...this holiday season, get ready for an action-packed, all-star, family reunion like no other as Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake return for the new chapter in DreamWorks Animation's blockbuster musical franchise: 'Trolls Band Together'..."

Click the images to enlarge...

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Camila Cabello voices Viva in Trolls Band Together, directed by Walt Dohrn. Camila Cabello is a new addition to the third Trolls movie, Trolls Band Together. That makes her part of a growing all-star cast that also includes Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Kenan Thompson, and Deschanel. Cabello says the cast feels like a family, which is appropriate for a movie that has family as one of its primary themes. (Click on the media bar below to hear Camila Cabello) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Camila_Cabella_Joining_Troll-Family.mp3 Trolls Band Together is now playing in theaters.

The post ‘Trolls’ Felt Like Family For Camila Cabello appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Disney original animation is looking at a comeback this Thanksgiving. The princess pic Wish is looking at as much as $45M-$50M over five days after the studio suffering a setback over last year’s holiday with Strange World, which did $18.8M.

With the strikes over and Thanksgiving week a primetime for moviegoing with K-12 schools off all week and colleges off Thursday and Friday, there’s a lot of hope from Hollywood for a bountiful box office. All movies combined to gross $134M during the Wednesday-Sunday period in 2022. Remember, Black Friday is one of the richest days of the year at the domestic box office.

The overseas release for Wish is a staggered approach a la Disney/Pixar’s Elemental, with only 43% of the foreign marketplace going this week including major markets UK, Spain, Mexico, China, as well as India, Benelux, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Philippines. All in, $25M is expected from abroad,...

The directors behind several of the animated films that are looking to make their mark on the upcoming Oscar race sat down with Gold Derby and dished about several topics including the piece of animation that first inspired them to work in the medium, their favorite animated project they’ve seen recently and what their ideal music would be to play if they won an award. This was all part of Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts panel on Film Animation that included Nick Bruno (“Nimona”), Kemp Powers (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”), Aaron Horvath (“The Super Mario Bros. Movie”) and Walt Dohrn (“Trolls Band Together”).

You can watch the film animation group panel above with the people who made these four movies. Click on each person’s name above to be taken to each exclusive interview.

For Powers, the piece of animation that stuck out most to him in making...

In “Trolls Band Together,” director Walt Dohrn says that one of the most important aspects of making sure the film works is determining where and when specific songs should be used. He says the central thing to keep in mind is where they can help move the story forward in a unique way. He then illustrated this using the song, “Sweet Dreams,” as an example. “How do we do that? We have the lyrics, so what we do is just start blocking them in going, okay, this would be a good place for it rhythmically. We just start slowly building it, putting songs in, just rough songs,” he tells Gold Derby during our recent webchat for our Meet the Experts: Film Animation panel (watch the exclusive video interview above).

Even with all the songs that are used, there are still instances of ones that Dohrn really wanted to use...

Lionsgate’s prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes opened to $44 million at the domestic box office, easily enough to win the weekend but coming in behind expectations. The event pic has plenty of time to make up ground over Thanksgiving week, one of the most lucrative corridors of the year at the box office.

Heading into the frame, tracking suggested the movie would devour at least $50 million in ticket sales as Lionsgate goes about the difficult task of trying to create a spinoff franchise. The studio remained hopeful on Saturday morning that the pic would come in on the higher end of the $45 million to $50 million range, but traffic slipped more than expected on Saturday. (The film’s future will become more clear when foreign numbers come in.)

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes opens eight years after the last Hunger Games played in theaters and...

“I think I didn’t realize how lucky I got with this team,” franchise star Anna Kendrick said about DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls Band Together.

Speaking at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event, the Oscar nominee said, “I have other friends who have done other animated films, and they’re like, ‘Yeah it’s cool — you get to show up in your pajamas.’ But its kind of a slog, like someone’s just behind glass and you do three in a row and you just see [hear] … ‘Ah that was great. Do you want to try three more?”

Director Walt Dohrn and producer Gina Shay also were on the panel.

Nsync alum Justin Timberlake also is back for the third film in the toon series. It’s all about the Pop trolls and the five members of BroZone, a five-piece vocal outfit about to perform their last gig, not that they know it.

Poppy (Anna Kendrick) in Trolls Band Together, directed by Walt Dohrn. As a movie star, Anna Kendrick may have a great job. But, like many of us, she doesn’t always love working. The one surefire way she’s found to beat the workweek blues is Poppy. Yes, Kendrick told us that, whenever she’s asked to work on another Trolls film, like the new Trolls Band Together, her eyes light up, and she can’t wait to get to the studio. (Click on the media bar below to hear Anna Kendrick) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Anna_Kendrick_trolls_Charachter_.mp3 Trolls Band Together is now playing in theaters.

The post Anna Kendrick Always Perks Up When ‘Trolls” Poppy Beckons appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” has caught some fire at the domestic box office. Lionsgate’s “Hunger Games” prequel earned about $19.1 million on its opening day from 3,776 locations, a figure that includes $5.75 million in Thursday previews.

The new installment in the young adult dystopian action series will still secure the top slot at the domestic box office over a busy weekend, which also sees the wide releases of the animated sequel “Trolls Band Together” and the seasonal slasher “Thanksgiving.”

“Songbirds and Snakes” has a leg up with increased ticket prices from Imax and other premium large formats. It’s looking at a three-day tally of about $45 million, which would mark an okay debut for a franchise revival with a $100 million production budget. That’s still trending behind projections of $50 million heading into the weekend. It also has little hope of reaching the box office heights of previous “Hunger Games” entries.

Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles kicks off Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. Pt spotlighting 28 movies, with panel discussions featuring cast and creatives from this awards season’s most talked-about films, including actors scheduled to return to post-strike duty from Margot Robbie, Bradley Cooper, Cillian Murphy, Jeffrey Wright, Colman Domingo, Lily Gladstone, Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson and Annette Bening to Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Carey Mulligan, Anna Kendrick, Eve Hewson and America Ferrara.

Click here to launch the livestream.

During the summer of 2023, with both the writers’ and actors’ strikes in full swing, the future of Contenders was by no means a sure thing. Indeed, SAG-AFTRA’s call to arms immediately preceded the extraordinary double whammy of Barbie and Oppenheimer, right at the moment when it seemed mainstream audiences were ready to go back to the cinema.

After Contenders Film: London in October proved that the films themselves are the real stars,...