All the real life high-profilers behind the iconic characters of Shrek
What could only have started as a fever dream has spawned into a decades-long franchise with seemingly every Hollywood heavyweight vying for a spot on the cast list – and now it's getting another sequel!
That's right, Shrek is getting a fifth movie, set to come out in July 2026 – 16 years after the previous film Shrek Forever After, which was also touted to be the franchise's final, premiered.
Key members of the cast are returning to the swamp to voice beloved characters – read on to find out who voiced your favourite on-screen fairytale icons, and who's coming back into the fold.
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Shrek
Our titular hero who was treated like a villain his whole life has been key to teaching viewers not to judge a book by its cover, but the voice actor who has become synonymous with the franchise's leading man actually wasn't the studio's first pick for the role.
Chris Farley
American comedian Chris Farley had originally been cast as Shrek, and had recorded 85 per cent of his lines at the time of his death aged 33 in December 1997.
After much back and forth and scrapped plans – director Andrew Adamson later revealed they had considered having a Farley impersonator record the final portions of Shrek's dialogue – the team realised they had to move in another direction.
Mike Myers
Enter Mike Myers.
The comedian – who had already made his mark in comedy particularly with the first Austin Powers movie – was ultimately cast as Shrek after the team "spent a year banging [their] heads against the wall".
"Chris's Shrek and Mike's Shrek are really two completely different characters, as much as Chris and Mike are two completely different people," Adamson later recalled to Splitsider.
"Myers asked that the script be completely rewritten so that he wouldn't be starring in the Chris Farley version of the film."
Myers is set to return to the franchise for the fifth installment, DreamWorks Animation has confirmed.
Princess Fiona
A beautiful princess cursed to transform into an ogre at night, Princess Fiona has been the ultimate badass who continuously teaches audiences to embrace who they are and love themselves for it.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz voices Princess Fiona, and is set to return for Shrek 5.
She's recently been making a comeback to Hollywood after a years-long self-imposed exile.
Donkey
He's every road-tripping parent's nightmare and the reason I, and many other zillennials, will never fail to ask 'Are we there yet?' repeatedly the second a journey ticks over the five-minute mark.
Donkey is also a feminist icon, marrying the fearsome Dragon after falling in love with her strength.
Eddie Murphy
It's Eddie Murphy!
The actor may be more known for Beverly Hills Cop, but he welcomed a whole new generation of fans by taking on the mule, a role he's set to reprise in the fifth installment.
Lord Farquaad
The less said about Lord Farquaad, the better, but before we move on, sound his name out loud, very slowly... it's a cheeky joke for adult viewers who may have initially gone to the cinema for their children, but stayed for the X-rated Easter eggs.
John Lithgow
Actor John Lithgow voiced Farquaad, who was based off of former Disney CEO Michael Eisner due to producer Jeffrey Katzenberg's animosity towards his former employer.
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