Mike Myers Revisits Shrek: From a Post-War Cry to a Scottish Ogre

At the world-premiere screening of Steven Spielberg’s *Saving Private Ryan*, DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg approached Mike Myers in the lobby, accompanied by his daughters performing a dance from *Austin Powers*. Katzenberg asked whether Myers would consider voicing an animated film and then presented the working title “Shrek.” Myers dismissed the title before agreeing to view the project.

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Katzenberg’s concept aimed to invert classic fairy-tale tropes, making the story “more inventive and inclusive” and casting an African-American voice for Donkey. The primary figures were Myers, who later adopted a Scottish accent for the ogre; Katzenberg, who initially warned that re-animating the accent would be costly; and Spielberg, who supported Myers’s creative choice despite budget concerns.

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• Saving Private Ryan premiere – Myers meets Katzenberg.

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• Shrek pitch – Title introduced; Myers reacts negatively.

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• Accent debate – Myers proposes Scottish voice; Katzenberg cites “so much money” for re-animation.

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• Production approval – Spielberg backs the accent; Katzenberg later accepts the change.

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• July 1 2026 – Release date announced for *Shrek 5*, confirming Myers’s return.

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Katzenberg argued that switching to a Scottish accent would require extensive re-animation, estimating a multi-million-dollar expense. Spielberg echoed this concern, noting the change “would cost millions.” Myers countered that he would not receive extra pay and urged the team to proceed. After Myers recorded the Scottish voice, Spielberg sent a personal letter praising the performance, and Katzenberg subsequently expressed satisfaction with the final result.

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Myers’s initial reaction to the title was blunt, calling it “the worst fucking title I’ve ever heard in my life” and likening it to “the sound you make after drinking too many Molson Canadians.” Katzenberg’s financial objection to the accent shift also represented internal opposition to Myers’s creative direction.

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Shrek’s inversion of Eurocentric fairy-tale tropes and its inclusive casting have been cited as influential in expanding representation within mainstream animated features.

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• “Well, that’s the worst fucking title I’ve ever heard in my life.” — Mike Myers, Actor

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• “It’s the sound you make after drinking too many Molson Canadians. ‘Agh! Shreck!’ So he said, ‘Just come down and see it,'” — Mike Myers, Actor

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• “I’m not getting paid more to do this. Let’s do it.” — Mike Myers, Actor

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• “He said, ‘You were absolutely right. You were 100 percent more connected to it.’ And Jeffrey came to like it, which is fine. Now here we are.” — Steven Spielberg, Director

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• “It’s gonna cost millions” — Steven Spielberg, Director

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Myers confirmed he has begun voice work for *Shrek 5*, though he will not record alongside Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz until later in production. The sequel’s July 2026 release will reunite the original trio and extend the franchise’s legacy.

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