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Eddie Murphy Returns as Donkey in 2028 Spin-off.

6/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation set the Donkey spinoff to open in U.S. theaters on June 30, 2028.
Eddie Murphy will reprise his voice role as Donkey in the Donkey film.
Murphy will also return as Donkey in Shrek 5, slated for June 30, 2027.
Charlie Bean will direct the Donkey film with Matt Flynn co-directing, while Rebecca Huntley produces it, which will tell the character’s origin.

History

Historical Context

DreamWorks Animation launched the Shrek franchise in 2001, earning $484 million worldwide and winning the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. After NBCUniversal bought DreamWorks in 2016, the series continued with four sequels and spin-offs, and a fifth film slated for June 2027 reunites Eddie Murphy with director Walt Dohrn, illustrating studios’ reliance on legacy IPs.

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Story summary

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation set the Donkey spinoff to open in U.S. theaters on June 30, 2028.
Eddie Murphy will reprise his voice role as Donkey in the Donkey film.
Murphy will also return as Donkey in Shrek 5, slated for June 30, 2027.
Charlie Bean will direct the Donkey film with Matt Flynn co-directing, while Rebecca Huntley produces it, which will tell the character’s origin.

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