Mike Myers says he does not know whether Shrek appears in *Donkey*, the DreamWorks spinoff built around Eddie Murphy's character — but he called the film "long overdue" and said he will be first in line to see it. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Myers said: "I don't think I'm in it.
I might be. I'm not sure, but it's long overdue." That is a warmer signal than it first reads. Myers is not distancing himself from the project; he is describing a film whose structure may simply not have room for his ogre, and he is openly enthusiastic about it arriving at all.
Table of Contents
- What Myers actually said, and where he said it
- Why Shrek might not appear at all
- Donkey's release date, director and team
- How this fits with Shrek 5
- What this does not confirm
- The Austin Powers news buried in the same interview
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Myers actually said, and where he said it
Myers made the comments on the carpet at the premiere for *Focker-in-Law*, the fourth *Meet the Parents* film, which Universal releases in US theaters on November 25, 2026. The *Donkey* question came up alongside wider franchise talk, and Myers answered it without hedging about his feelings — only about his casting. His phrasing matters.
"I don't think I'm in it. I might be" is the language of an actor who has not been booked for a recording session, not one who has turned a part down or been written out. He added that he is surprised it has taken this long for Murphy's character to get a film.
Why Shrek might not appear at all
That makes his uncertainty a storytelling fact rather than a casting dispute. A prequel can still find room for a framing device, a bookend, or a late cameo, but none of those are required by the premise, and none would need to be locked in this far from release. Readers tracking the franchise should separate two questions that often get merged:.
- Donkey* is an origin-story prequel. Per CBR's coverage of the same interview, the film is set before Donkey meets Shrek — which is the structural reason Myers cannot confirm an appearance. At that point in the timeline, the ogre is not yet part of Donkey's life.
- **Is Myers available and willing?** By his own account, yes — he is enthusiastic about the film.
- **Does the story need Shrek?** Not obviously, given where the prequel sits in the timeline.
Donkey's release date, director and team
Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation officially dated *Donkey* for June 30, 2028, announced in late June 2026, with Eddie Murphy returning to voice the character. ScreenDaily reported the date alongside Murphy's involvement.
Charlie Bean, who directed *The Lego Ninjago Movie*, helms the film, with Matt Flynn co-directing and Rebecca Huntley producing. That is the same spinoff playbook DreamWorks used to launch the *Puss in Boots* films — take a scene-stealing supporting character, give them a standalone feature, and build a second line of movies off the main series.
How this fits with Shrek 5
The sequencing also explains the ordering. *Shrek 5* lands first and re-establishes the core cast; *Donkey* follows twelve months later with a story that predates all of it.
- Shrek 5* now carries a June 30, 2027 release date, exactly a year ahead of *Donkey*. The film moved there from December 23, 2026, which was itself a shift from the original July 1, 2026 date announced in 2024 — BroadwayWorld covered the move in August 2025. Any listing still showing a 2026 date for *Shrek 5* is out of date.
- Shrek 5* brings back Myers, Murphy and Cameron Diaz as Shrek, Donkey and Fiona, with Zendaya joining as Shrek's daughter Felicia, under co-directors Walt Dohrn and Brad Ableson. So Myers is contracted and active in the franchise — his *Donkey* uncertainty sits next to a confirmed return, not in place of one.
What this does not confirm
Asked in the same interview whether the franchise continues past *Shrek 5*, Myers answered "I'd love to." DreamWorks has made no official *Shrek 6* announcement, and an actor's willingness is not a greenlight. A related claim circulating since May 2026 deserves the same caution.
Dana Carvey said Myers told him directly, "We're doing two more" Shrek films — a secondhand account, not a studio statement, and not confirmed by Universal or DreamWorks. Practical way to read franchise news of this kind:.
- **Dated and studio-announced** — treat as firm: *Shrek 5* on June 30, 2027; *Donkey* on June 30, 2028.
- **On-record from a cast member about their own work** — reliable as a statement of intent, not a schedule.
- **Relayed through a third party** — interesting, unconfirmed, and not a basis for expecting a release.
The Austin Powers news buried in the same interview
In the same THR conversation, Myers confirmed he is actively writing *Austin Powers 4*. He said he is working on the script now and having a great time, while declining to discuss plot.
That is a genuine reversal. In 2024 Myers would only say he could "neither confirm nor deny" the project, so a working script is the furthest that sequel has advanced on the record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mike Myers confirmed to be in *Donkey*?
No. He told The Hollywood Reporter he does not think he is in it, though he said he might be and has not ruled it out.
When do *Shrek 5* and *Donkey* come out?
*Shrek 5* is dated June 30, 2027, and *Donkey* is dated June 30, 2028.
Who is directing *Donkey*?
Charlie Bean, director of *The Lego Ninjago Movie*, with Matt Flynn co-directing and Rebecca Huntley producing.
Has *Shrek 6* been announced?
No. Myers said he would love to continue, but DreamWorks has announced nothing beyond *Shrek 5*.