Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation have officially debuted the very first teaser for Shrek 5, revealing that Mike Myers (as Shrek), Eddie Murphy (as Donkey), and Cameron Diaz (as Fiona) will all reprise their beloved roles. The footage also confirms the rumored addition of Zendaya (Spider-Man: No Way Home; Dune: Part Two; Challengers) to the star-studded voice cast, with the actress set to portray the daughter of Shrek and Fiona.
While most story elements are still being kept under wraps, it’s heavily speculated that Zendaya’s character will be named Felicia.
Longtime franchise collaborators Walt Dohrn (Trolls; Trolls World Tour; Trolls Band Together) and Conrad Vernon (Monsters vs. Aliens; Sausage Party; The Addams Family) have been chosen to direct, with Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru) on board as co-director. Michael McCullers (Austin Powers in Goldmember; Baby Mama; The Boss Baby) penned the screenplay.
Marking the first main-series Shrek film in sixteen years, Shrek 5 follows in the footsteps of the original Shrek (2001), Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010). Its story also takes place after the two spin-offs: 2011’s Puss in Boots and 2022’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Across six movies, the Shrek franchise has earned over $4 billion worldwide, making this sequel one of the most eagerly anticipated animated films in recent memory.
Zendaya, a two-time Primetime Emmy winner, is widely recognized for her role as MJ in Jon Watts’ blockbuster Spider-Man trilogy opposite fiancé Tom Holland, as well as for her portrayal of Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films alongside two-time Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet.
Among her many other credits are Challengers, Malcolm & Marie, The Greatest Showman, Euphoria, The OA, K.C. Undercover, and Shake It Up. She next appears in A24’s The Drama with Robert Pattinson and is currently filming the third and final season of HBO’s Euphoria.
She’s also slated to return for Spider-Man 4 and Dune: Messiah, both aiming to start production later this year before releasing in 2026 on July 31 and December 18, respectively. Additionally, she has joined the cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, now filming worldwide and targeting a July 17, 2026 launch.
With four major film releases and a significant TV premiere on the horizon, 2026 is quickly shaping up to be the biggest years of Zendaya’s career to date.
Shrek 5 arrives in theaters on December 23, 2026—watch the first teaser now.