First look at Shrek 5: Zendaya joins cast, classic characters return

Shrek enthusiasts will be excited to know that the first teaser for Shrek 5 is out. The video was shared by Universal Pictures on Thursday, February 27, featuring actress Zendaya in the voice cast. She joins the original stars Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Fiona), and Eddie Murphy (Donkey).

The studio previewed the announcement on Instagram, captioning the clip: “Far, Far Away’s finest are coming.”

The teaser shows Donkey having a conversation with the magic mirror: “Who is the fairest of them all?”. When the answer is revealed, Shrek and Fiona are seated watching with Zendaya’s character, who is now officially announced as their daughter. Pinocchio also gets a cameo where he utters a lie and his nose starts growing.

Zendaya’s love for Shrek comes full circle

Zendaya, now 28, has been a long-time Shrek fan. She tweeted in August 2017, “I watch Shrek too often in my adulthood.” When her casting was announced, the official Shrek social media account re-posted her old tweet, adding: “This aged well.”

A look ack at the Shrek franchise

The Shrek franchise started in 2001, with the original film winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. It was succeeded by Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010). The franchise was also extended with spin-offs based on Antonio Banderas’ character, Puss in Boots, such as Puss in Boots (2011) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022).

Shrek 5 is set to hit theaters on December 23, 2026.