Shrek 5: Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri Promises a New Reboot
Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination company, gave an inside look into the highly anticipated Shrek 5.
Meledandri confirmed what fans have been demanding for over a decade: Shrek 5. Although the fifth installment was originally confirmed as far back as 2016, few developments have happened since then. Shrek‘s cult following has had fans curious about the state of the next film for over seven years.
Fortunately, we have more news than ever on the movie: according to Variety, Meledandri is not only the CEO of Illumination but also a creative partner for Shrek 5. While no deals have happened yet, the CEO mentioned that the original cast has expressed enthusiasm to return to the big screen. On the cast, Meledandri confirmed that he “[anticipates] the cast coming back. Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return.”
Following Shrek spinoff Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, Eddie Murphy expressed a desire to reprise his role as Donkey. “If [DreamWorks] ever came with another Shrek, I’d do it in two seconds. I love Donkey,” he expressed in January. Murphy clearly loves his character, and his portrayal resonated with audiences. In fact, Dreamworks recently wished Eddie Murphy with a picture of Donkey on their official Instagram.
Murphy wasn’t the only one excited about Shrek following the success of The Last Wish. Fan excitement exploded when a brief ending scene was shown in The Last Wish, in which Puss is seen journeying back to “Far Far Away,” where he would be visiting some “old friends.” Audiences interpreted this scene as a teaser for Shrek 5, especially since other characters from the franchise made cameos in The Last Wish.
The hype for the movie is only increasing since Meledandri’s statements. On Twitter, actress and singer Elizabeth Gillies shared her excitement for the news:
Brb passing out https://t.co/bK5QnKepXD
— Elizabeth Gillies (@LizGillies) April 4, 2023
Meledandri is most known for his involvement in the Sing franchise and the upcoming The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Between the streaming success of Sing 2 in 2022 and the hype surrounding Super Mario, Meledandri’s involvement in Shrek is a good sign.
Meledandri is clearly passionate about the upcoming film. He shared insight as to how he feels the movie should be handled, claiming that “you look at what the core elements are that audiences have loved, and you do your very best to honor those core elements.” If the success of The Last Wish was any indication, the Dreamworks team should have no problem honoring audiences’ wishes.
Audiences can watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie in theaters on April 5.
Writer | Tweet me @avadlpn
