The world of Shrek may have last released an installment almost a decade and a half ago, but it is barely done yet. This is because the franchise is all set to return to the screens as it prepares to deliver yet another entertaining installment to fans soon. This installment — Shrek 5 — reportedly has earned itself a star-studded cast, too.
According to the latest announcements, besides the original leads returning to the saga to once again voice the fan-favorite characters, Hollywood hotshot Zendaya is among the other names to debut in the swamp near the Far Far Away kingdom. Not to mention, Cameron Diaz will also be making her return through the same.
The full cast of Shrek 5 includes Zendaya, Cameron Diaz
While not a lot of details have been released about this forthcoming fifth installment in the film series as of yet, Universal Pictures recently announced the voice acting cast for the characters in Shrek 5. And this time around, Spider-Man: No Way Home actress Zendaya is making her debut in a new role as well.
Per the studio’s official cast announcement released on YouTube, the top-rated A-lister Euphoria actress will reportedly embody the character of the titular lead ogre and his wife Fiona’s daughter, Felicia. Besides this new character, the old actors and characters returning include Cameron Diaz, who will also be returning to the screens through the same.
As she had done in all the past installments of the franchise, The Mask actress will be reprising her character of Princess Fiona alongside Mike Myers as Shrek, who is also once again returning to the saga after all this time. Not to mention, the very beloved character of Donkey is returning too, with Eddie Murphy voicing him, as always.
Fans react to the Gen-Z vibes visible in Shrek 5
While the franchise returning to the screen with another installment after all this time is good news that fans are celebrating, what quite a few of them are not too sure about is how Gen-Z-tamed it all feels. To put it simply, especially after looking at the teaser that the studio released to announce the casting, fans are convinced the film is intended to cater to Gen-Z.
This is evident from how Zendaya’s Felicia sports the look of a Gen-Z princess, with even Diaz’s Fiona sporting some of those traits and there being the literal existence of TikTok in the fan-favorite ogre’s world. That said, many fans aren’t holding their breath on this one, as is clear from the reactions they are sharing on X:
not my shrek family! 😔 pic.twitter.com/NvnsTFVvPn
— Lulu (@luanaxbelle) February 27, 2025
This is basically Shrek 5 pic.twitter.com/l1DQ8Wyrqr
— vids that go hard (@vidsthatgohard) February 27, 2025
Oh, this is going to be complete and utter trash, isn’t it?
— Vensaval (@Vensaval) February 27, 2025
feels like the sonic trailer all over again pic.twitter.com/IfRtnHRswc
— Rigby リグビー (@Rigby_The_Gamer) February 27, 2025
— joeman (@joeman_goat) February 27, 2025
TIKTOK IN SHREK pic.twitter.com/tx9B2KUWit
— Wong Updates (@WongUpdates) February 27, 2025
This is not it. pic.twitter.com/y3hI0RWnjp
— Jalan Nored (@ThisIsJnored) February 27, 2025
This is literally how Zendaya looks… pic.twitter.com/AvpgebaZD2
— David Santa Carla 🦇 (@TheOnlyDSC) February 27, 2025
Modern animators ruin EVERYTHING 💔💔
Literally just get the models from shrek 1-4.. it doesn’t HAVE to look garbage man
— ☆Yogi (@Yogification_) February 27, 2025
All in all, while the beloved Shrek franchise is back with a new installment, boasting an exciting cast with the return of Cameron Diaz, Mike Myers, and Eddie Murphy, some fans are questioning the film’s apparent Gen-Z twist. As the release date approaches, fans will still eagerly await the final product, hoping it will live up to the franchise’s iconic legacy.
Shrek 5 is set to release on 23 December 2026.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
