Hollywood star Zendaya is set to join the beloved Shrek franchise, starring alongside Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz in Shrek 5.
The Challengers actress, 28, appears to be voicing Shrek’s daughter in the upcoming film, marking the first main-series instalment in the franchise since Shrek Forever After (2010). The film will see the return of Myers as the titular ogre, Diaz as Fiona, and Murphy as Donkey.
A sneak peek at shrek 5
A teaser posted to the official Shrek page on X (formerly Twitter) has sparked excitement among fans. In the clip, Donkey asks the magic mirror, “Who is the fairest of them all?” The mirror responds, “Why, Shrek, of course!” before displaying a series of images of the green ogre, mimicking well-known internet memes of the character.
One particular image, which features Shrek with exaggerated abs, prompts his daughter—who sports a nose ring, green lipstick, and ombre hair—to react in horror, exclaiming, “Eww, Dad! Bleugh.”
The teaser concludes with the caption: “Far, Far Away’s finest are coming.” It also reveals the official release date for the film—Christmas 2026.
Zendaya’s expanding film career
Zendaya’s addition to Shrek 5 adds another high-profile project to her already packed schedule. The actress is expected to reprise her role as Chani in Dune 3, following the success of Dune: Part Two, which won BAFTA awards for sound and visual effects. She is also set to return as Rue in the third season of HBO’s Euphoria, and reports suggest she has been cast in Sir Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film adaptation of The Odyssey.
Additionally, Zendaya may once again appear as MJ in the next Spider-Man film, following confirmation from her co-star and boyfriend, Tom Holland, that a fourth instalment of the Marvel series is in development.
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In 2024, she starred in Challengers, a tennis drama directed by Luca Guadagnino, earning critical acclaim for her performance.
Shrek returns after more than a decade
The original Shrek film premiered in 2001 and became an instant classic, winning the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The franchise went on to release three sequels: Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010). The series also inspired spin-offs, including the Puss in Boots films, with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) reigniting interest in the Shrek universe.
Shrek 5 will mark the first return of the main characters in over 16 years, and with Zendaya now part of the cast, excitement for the film continues to build.
