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Eddie Murphy Returns as Donkey in 2028 Shrek Prequel

6/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation announced “Donkey” will open on June 30, 2028.
Eddie Murphy returns to voice Donkey, a role he has held since 2001.
The film is an origin-story prequel about how the talking donkey became Donkey.
Charlie Bean directs, Matt Flynn co-directs, and Rebecca Huntley produces the eighth Shrek feature, which follows Shrek 5’s summer 2027 release.
The Shrek franchise has earned over $3.5 billion worldwide.

History

Historical Context

DreamWorks Animation launched the Shrek franchise with Shrek 2 in 2004, which became the year’s top-grossing animated film and cemented the series as a blockbuster property. After NBCUniversal’s $3.8 billion purchase of DreamWorks in 2016, the studio integrated the franchise into Universal’s slate. In 2028 the studio will release Donkey, reuniting Eddie Murphy with his original character.

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Story summary

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation announced “Donkey” will open on June 30, 2028.
Eddie Murphy returns to voice Donkey, a role he has held since 2001.
The film is an origin-story prequel about how the talking donkey became Donkey.
Charlie Bean directs, Matt Flynn co-directs, and Rebecca Huntley produces the eighth Shrek feature, which follows Shrek 5’s summer 2027 release.
The Shrek franchise has earned over $3.5 billion worldwide.

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