After a long hiatus, it seems DreamWorks Animation is ready to pick theShrekfranchise back up. Previously reports peggedthe fifth installmentfor releasesometime in 2019, and now the next sequel has a writer aboard.
In an interview withHollywood News,Trollsco-directorMike Mitchell(who also helmedShrek 2) said, “They’ve got a pretty good story. It’s being written byMichael McCullerswho wrote all of theAustin Powersfilms. He came up with a really great idea that they’re exploring.” His directing partnerWalt Dohrn(who helmedShrek Forever After) added, “There’s more story to tell there and we’re ready to help tell it for sure.”
McCullers is a veteran ofSaturday Night Liveand pennedAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged MeandAustin Powers in GoldmemberforMike Myers. He also wrote and directedBaby Mama, starring two otherSNLalumsTina FeyandAmy Poehler, and most recently worked on the screenplay for the animatedMr. Peabody & Sherman.
As of now, there’s no director publicly attached toShrek 5, but both Mitchell and Dohrn said they would like to be involved: “We wanna be,” Dohrn said. “We’d love that.”
Shrek Forever After, released in 2010, is the most recent installment of theShrekstoryline. The plot centered around the eponymous green ogre (voiced by Myers) having a mid-life crisis, during which he falls prey to the manipulation of Rumpelstiltskin. The fairy tale creature throws Shrek into an alternate reality where he doesn’t exist and Rumpel is the supreme ruler.
We then got aPuss in Bootsspin-off in 2011 with the franchise suffering domestically:Forever Afterwas the lowest-grossing U.S. release of theShrekmovies with $238.7 million, whilePuss in Bootsearned $149.3 million. However, the films earned $752.6 million and $555 million worldwide, respectively. Keep an eye out for more updates in the coming months.
