Eddie Murphy Returns as Donkey: Spin-off Film "Donkey" Announced

Background: Donkey Becomes the Main Character

In earlier interviews, Eddie Murphy had hinted that the Donkey character deserved his own story. These hints have now become official: DreamWorks confirmed that a spin-off is being created under the title "Donkey," designed to strengthen the character's independence within the franchise. "Donkey" thus becomes the first spin-off in the franchise to focus entirely on a supporting character.

Direction will be handled by Charlie Bean, a US director known for "The Lego Ninjago Movie" and the Disney remake "Lady and the Tramp." By casting Bean as director, the studios are turning to a filmmaker with experience in the animation field who works for both family audiences and younger viewers.

Direction: Charlie Bean Takes Over

Eddie Murphy, who turns 65 this year, has been one of the defining figures in Hollywood for decades. He became known through, among others, "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Coming to America." In the "Shrek" franchise, he voiced Donkey alongside Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona, and Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots.

Parallel to "Donkey," work is underway at DreamWorks on "Shrek 5," which has been announced for June 2027. For the fifth main installment, it has also been confirmed that actress Zendaya has been signed as the new voice for the role of the daughter of Shrek and Princess Fiona. The studio is thus expanding the "Shrek" universe in two directions: on the one hand, with a new main film; on the other, with the Donkey spin-off.

Outlook: "Shrek 5" and the Further Franchise Plan

Sources familiar with the matter put the fee for the voice role in "Donkey" at around one million US dollars, putting it on the level that Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas received in earlier "Shrek" films. The comparatively moderate sum underscores that the stars are apparently supporting the project more out of attachment to the franchise than for financial reasons.

By placing the theatrical release in June 2028, Universal Pictures and DreamWorks are positioning "Donkey" as a summer family film. The timing thus falls roughly one year after the planned release of "Shrek 5" and is intended to carry the hype around the franchise into a second wave. Industry observers see the move as an attempt to reactivate one of the most popular animated franchises of the 2000s for a new audience without damaging its nostalgic core.

The Donkey, conceived in the original series as a fast-talking, loyal sidekick, has long been considered the secret audience favorite of the "Shrek" films. With the spin-off, the character now gets the stage Murphy has been writing for him since the first film. "Donkey" thus becomes a test of whether a supporting character can carry an audience on his own across multiple decades.

It remains unclear whether Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas will also appear in "Donkey." The official announcement initially mentions only Eddie Murphy as a confirmed voice cast member. The studios have also not yet released details about the plot; however, a standalone story set within the "Shrek" universe is expected.

With the project, DreamWorks and Universal Pictures are consistently expanding their animation strategy. After successful franchises such as "Kung Fu Panda" and the animated "Pirates of the Caribbean," they are now expanding the "Shrek" universe with a standalone spin-off. "Donkey" is thus likely to serve as a bridge between the planned "Shrek 5" in 2027 and further possible spin-offs.