Get ready for another trip to the swamp as a fifth Shrek film is officially on the cards – and there’s even a spin-off in the works starring everyone’s favourite chatterbox, Donkey.
It’s been 23 years since we first met lovable ogre Shrek and his quirky crew. They’ve had quite the ride, from saving Princess Fiona to fighting the Fairy Godmother, befriending Puss in Boots, and seeing Far, Far Away succumb to Rumpelstiltskin’s rule.
Speaking about the upcoming films, Eddie Murphy, the legendary voice behind Donkey, said: “We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago. I recorded the first act and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up.” He didn’t stop there, adding: “Donkey’s gonna have his own movie. We’re gonna do Donkey as well. We’re doing a Donkey one next.”
(Image: Unknown)
As soon as Entertainment Tonight dropped the bombshell on their Instagram page, fans were buzzing. One superfan gushed: “I’m literally watching Shrek right now. I love the Shrek movies.”
But what’s happened to the stars who brought our cherished childhood characters to life? Read on to find out.
Mike Myers – Shrek
(Image: PA)
Mike Myers has made us all laugh over the years from his stint on SNL to ‘The Cat in The Hat’ and of course his iconic role as Austin Powers. But it seems Shrek has always remained a favourite character of his.
Chatting with GQ in 2023, the Liverpool-born actor said: “I loved playing Shrek. If I had to do one Shrek a year I’d be thrilled.”
When not on set, Myers is a Dungeons and Dragons buff, and showed off his moves on Worldwide Dungeons and Dragons Game Day back in 2005. He also loves ice hockey, cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and supports Liverpool FC closer to home.
He and wife Kelly Tisdale have three children and live in New York.
Eddie Murphy – Donkey
(Image: 20th Century Fox Film Company)
Murphy has starred in a number of high-profile films such as Beverly Hills Cop, Dr Dolittle, Daddy Day Care, and The Nutty Professor.
He even snagged a Golden Globe for his role in ‘Dolemite is My Name’ in 2019.
Off-screen, Murphy, 63, is a father to 10 children. He once dated ‘Scary Spice’ Melanie Brown, who he shares a daughter with, Angel. He also has two children each with former partners Paulette McNeely and Tamara Hood, and five kids with his ex-wife Nicole Murphy. Murphy has been engaged to fiancée Paige Butcher for six years.
Cameron Diaz – Princess Fiona
(Image: Simon Mein/Sony/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
Diaz was a Hollywood favourite throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, starring in Charlie’s Angels, There’s Something About Mary, and My Best Friend’s Wedding before landing the role of Princess Fiona in Shrek. Since then, she has appeared in numerous blockbuster hits.
After playing Miss Hannigan in Annie in 2017, she took a break from acting. During this hiatus, she launched wine company Avaline in 2020, in partnership with entrepreneur Katherine Power.
That same year, she welcomed her daughter Raddix, and in March this year, her son Cardinal was born. She frequently posts updates about her life, wine company, and cooking tips on her Instagram page.
Antonio Banderas – Puss in Boots
(Image: Getty Images)
Antonio Banderas, the voice behind Puss in Boots, last starred in the film Puss In Boots: The Last Wish just two years ago. The Spanish actor has also graced major productions such as Philadelphia, The Mask of Zorro, and Once Upon a Time In Mexico.
Just a year before Shrek, he made his Broadway debut in Nine and bagged a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Banderas was previously linked with Melanie Griffith, and the couple have a daughter named Stella. The 63-year-old is currently seeing Nicole Kimpel.
John Lithgow – Lord Farquaad
(Image: Getty Images)
John had already carved out an impressive career decades before his role in Shrek. After the original film’s release, John went on to play Barney Stinson’s dad in How I Met Your Mother, featured in drama Dexter in 2009, and portrayed Winston Churchill in Netflix’s The Crown for three years.
The New York-born actor tied the knot with his wife and UCLA professor Mary Yeager back in the 1980s and the couple have two children together.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
