Mike Myers is leaving the door open for a Shrek cameo in the upcoming Donkey spinoff. Asked at the Focker-in-Law premiere in New York, he told The Hollywood Reporter: “I don’t think I’m in it. I might be.” The DreamWorks Animation feature is set for June 30, 2028, with Eddie Murphy returning to voice Donkey.
Myers did not frame the project as a small experiment. “It’s long overdue,” he said, adding that Donkey is one of his favorite characters and that he would be “first in line” to see it.
Franchise sequencing, not a side quest
For entertainment marketers, the release calendar is the story. Shrek 5 arrives next summer and brings Skyler Gisondo into the ensemble as Farkle, one of Shrek and Fiona’s teenage triplet sons. Donkey then gets its own theatrical date almost a year later.
That sequencing keeps the Shrek universe in cinemas for two consecutive cycles, with a supporting character carrying the second slot. It is a theatrical bet rather than a streaming test, which means real distribution commitments and a full marketing push.
The prequel framing also matters. An origin story lets DreamWorks explore Donkey without resetting the main Shrek timeline, lowering creative risk while still trading on a widely recognised character.
- Donkey: June 30, 2028, with Eddie Murphy voicing; Myers says he might appear.
- Shrek 5: next summer, introducing Skyler Gisondo as Farkle.
- Austin Powers 4: Myers is writing the screenplay now; no date, cast or director confirmed.
The Austin Powers script is real
Myers also confirmed that the fourth Austin Powers film has moved from talk to page. “I’m writing it right now; I’m having a great time,” he said. He stayed deliberately vague, joking that a secret agent cannot say too much.
The last Austin Powers installment hit theaters in 2002, so the franchise has been dormant for more than two decades. The confirmation gives the market a development signal, but nothing to schedule against yet.
What to do with the 2028 date
The Donkey release date is the planable number. Media planners can start scoping brand partnerships, trailer windows and licensed tie-ins, with Shrek 5 next summer acting as the first read on renewed audience appetite. If that film connects, Donkey inherits momentum; if it softens, the prequel must sell the character on its own.
For licensing and retail partners, a dated theatrical slot is an early trigger for packaging, tie-ins and media commitments that usually require long lead time.
Do not build a campaign around a Shrek cameo yet. Myers has kept the possibility alive, but the studio has not confirmed one. Treat Donkey as a franchise extension, not a guaranteed mainline Shrek event.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
