A fifth Shrek film is in the works with the return of the original cast, according to a studio executive. The last instalment in the series, Shrek Forever After, was released 13 years ago.
Chris Meledandri, the founder of computer animation firm Illumination, is working alongside film company DreamWorks to revive the much-loved film franchise. He said established cast members, who include Cameron Diaz, Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy are all "anticipated" to return for a new film.
Meledandri said he saw the original cast as a "huge part" of a new film taking audiences to "brand new places". He told Variety: "It’s not that dissimilar to the process that we went through with ‘Mario’, (the Super Mario Bros. Movie) where you look at what the core elements are that audiences have loved, and you do your very best to honour those core elements.
He added: "We anticipate 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."
He also backed the idea of Murphy’s character, Shrek's wise-cracking sidekick Donkey, getting his own spin-off, saying it was "without question". The idea already has the actor's support.
In January, Murphy said: “If [DreamWorks] ever came with another ‘Shrek,’ I’d do it in two seconds. I love Donkey. They did ‘Puss in Boots’ movies. I was like, ‘They should have done a Donkey movie.’ Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots. I mean, I love Puss in Boots, but he ain’t funny as the Donkey."
The most recent Shrek film in 2010 saw a happily married and settled Shrek beginning to miss the days when he was feared - and ill-advisedly making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin to wipe out his entire existence. To get it back, he had to regain Fiona's love before sunrise.
