Summary
- Just like
Inside Out 2
, family classics like
Shrek
are bringing audiences back to theaters for sequels. - Eddie Murphy is confirmed to be working on both
Shrek 5
and a Donkey spin-off movie. - The success of
Puss in Boots
movies shows that even after a decade, interest in the
Shrek
franchise remains high.
As Inside Out 2 is currently proving, not only is there hope yet for movie theaters, but there’s a massive audience ready and waiting for sequels to their favorite family classics. And, now, Eddie Murphy has confirmed that he has been in the recording booth to put down his lines for both Shrek 5, and a spin-off for his character, Donkey, as well.
Murphy is no stranger to sequels, having already been a part of three Shrek sequels (and numerous shorts), as well as Another 48 Hrs., Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, Dr. Dolittle 2, Coming 2 America, and a few Beverly Hills Cop follow-ups. This includes the hotly-anticipated Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which hits Netflix July 3.
So it’s no wonder he’s riding on a sequel high, considering not only the fact the Shrek sequels all managed to do well financially in their own right (especially Shrek 2), but also because Axel F looks to be a genuine winner. And, thanks to the superb two Puss in Boots movies, which also excelled at the box office and with critics, the humorous fairy tale franchise has retained its relevance.
That looks to continue, as Murphy recently sat down with Collider to discuss Axel F and, in doing so, also shed some light on the future of Shrek and friends. Not only did he confirm Shrek 5 for a tentative 2025 release – which ties up with previous reports – he elaborated on where it is in the production process, and dropped a surprise mention of a spin-off for his character, Donkey.
We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago. I did this [Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F], 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].
Murphy was then asked whether he had recorded anything for the Donkey spin-off alongside his completed work for Shrek 5. In response, the legendary actor stated:
No, not at the same time. I started recording Shrek, I think it’s coming out in 2025, and we’re doing a Donkey one next.
Wasn’t Shrek Forever After the Last One?
Initially, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg wanted 2010’s Shrek Forever After to be the end of the franchise. And, for a while, that looked to be the case.
But the following year’s Puss in Boots showed not only that the franchise was still financially viable, but capable of solid critical reviews, as well. Not to mention, it showed that projects like the impending Donkey movie can, in fact, work.
Related Shrek Is a Lot Less Kid-Friendly Than You Remember
Shrek is fun for the whole family, but when you really tune in to the film, you will realize there is a lot more adult content than you remember.
Then, after a whopping 11 years, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish reaffirmed those points, and it did so in a major way. Scoring even better critical reviews than its predecessor (or any of the Shrek films, for that matter), The Last Wish proved that even a decade’s wait wasn’t enough to make interest in the IP dwindle, considering it made nearly half a billion dollars at a time when theaters were doing particularly poorly. Earning over five times its budget, The Last Wish showed it wouldn’t be the Last time audiences visited DreamWorks’ land Far Far Away.
Murphy will first return next week as Axel Foley in his fourth Beverly Hills Cop outing. You can check out the trailer below.
You can view the original article HERE.
