Shrek and Donkey Look More Lifelike in New Shrek 5 Trailer

DreamWorks released the first full trailer for Shrek 5 on June 16, with the film set to hit theaters in summer 2027. The trailer includes a few jokes that land — the snowman gag feels especially like classic Shrek — but it also contains a brief moment of gumdrop twerking.

Visually, the returning characters are far more detailed and lifelike than in previous films. Eddie Murphy’s Donkey looks extra furry and fluffy, at times resembling an Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, while Mike Myers’ Shrek shows more facial crevices and wrinkles and comes across as more tired than before.

That increase in realism unsettles some viewers who miss the smoother, simpler look of the earlier films and balk at seeing pores and bumps up close. Still, as animation technology advances, characters meant to be flesh and fur are likely to be rendered with greater detail.

Shrek 5 arrives in theaters next summer. DreamWorks also kept the title simple — just Shrek 5, with no subtitle.

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