Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation have officially greenlit Donkey, a standalone spinoff movie starring Eddie Murphy. According to Variety, the film is scheduled to trot into theaters on June 30, 2028.

While the exact plot of Donkey is being kept under tight lock and key, the studios have confirmed that the film will serve as an official prequel and origin story. The narrative will explore the untold backstory of the character, detailing how a standard barnyard animal became the witty, pop-culture-obsessed, dragon-loving companion we first met in the original 2001 classic.

For Murphy, this project is a long time coming. Back in 2023, while promoting the franchise’s return, the actor made it clear where he stood in the hierarchy of Shrek’s sidekicks.

“I love Donkey,” Murphy said at the time. “They did Puss in Boots movies, and 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 as funny as the Donkey!'”

Three years later, the studio has finally agreed to let him prove it.

The film will be directed by Charlie Bean, whose impressive animation and action resume includes The Lego Ninjago Movie and Disney’s live-action Lady and the Tramp. Producing the feature is Rebecca Huntley, hot off her work on major animated successes like Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Bad Guys.

Rounding out the leadership team is co-director Matt Flynn, a veteran DreamWorks story artist whose previous creative touchpoints include The Wild Robot, The Bad Guys 2, and the critically adored Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, a film that set a gold-standard blueprint for how to execute a successful, high-concept spinoff.

The announcement of Donkey adds another layer of excitement to DreamWorks’ already packed slate. The spinoff is scheduled to land in theaters exactly one year after the highly anticipated debut of Shrek 5, which is locked in for June 30, 2027.

This back-to-back scheduling means fans will get two consecutive summers dominated by the Far, Far Away universe. Shrek 5 is set to reunite the franchise’s core trifecta, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Murphy, alongside some major new additions to the voice cast, including Zendaya.