Eddie Murphy has confirmed that a Donkey movie is in development, expanding the Shrek universe with a new storyline centered on the beloved character. Production on the spinoff is set to begin in September.

Murphy shared the update during a July 29 interview with ScreenRant while promoting his upcoming film The Pickup. He said that work on Shrek 5 is still ongoing. The film has been in development for about two years and is scheduled for release in December 2026. The Donkey film is expected to follow sometime after.

“We’re still recording Shrek. We start on Donkey in September. That one will be out in about three years,” Murphy said.

He added that the new film will explore Donkey’s life with his dragon wife and their children. While Murphy has mentioned the idea in the past, this marks the first time he has confirmed that the project is moving forward. DreamWorks has not commented.

Murphy will return as Donkey in Shrek 5, alongside Mike Myers as Shrek and Cameron Diaz as Fiona. Zendaya is expected to join the voice cast as their daughter.

The Shrek franchise began in 2001 and was adapted from the children’s book by William Steig. It led to three sequels and two Puss in Boots spin-offs. The series remains one of DreamWorks Animation’s most familiar properties.

Murphy’s next film, The Pickup, will be released on Prime Video on August 6. The film stars Murphy, Keke Palmer, and Pete Davidson as armored truck drivers who become caught in a robbery.