3 Minutes
New Eyes on the Swamp — Courtesy of Macy's Parade
A fresh visual hint of Shrek's return floated over Manhattan during this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A newly unveiled balloon — captured in a TODAY show YouTube clip and reported by ScreenRant — gives fans their first public look at Shrek's family as they appear in the upcoming Shrek 5.
The balloon design is playful and nostalgic: Shrek and Donkey peek out of an onion-shaped carriage window while, inside, Princess Fiona sits with two young boys — widely presumed to be Fergus and Farkle. That balloon is one of 32 featured in this year's parade, and the short glimpse has sparked a wave of excitement and speculation across social channels.
Cast, Crew and What We Know
DreamWorks has confirmed that franchise staples Mike Myers (Shrek) and Eddie Murphy (Donkey) are returning, alongside Cameron Diaz and Zendaya — the latter reportedly voicing Shrek’s daughter. Voice casting for Fergus and Farkle has not yet been announced. The sequel is being directed by franchise veterans Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn from a screenplay by Michael McCullers, with Brad Ableson — known for his work on Minions: The Rise of Gru — serving as assistant director.
Shrek 5 is scheduled for release on June 30, 2027. The four previous Shrek films remain one of DreamWorks’ most lucrative properties, having grossed roughly $2.9 billion worldwide; the original 2001 Shrek also secured the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a milestone in modern animation history.
Why this matters
The parade reveal is more than a cute publicity stunt. It aligns with a broader industry trend of leaning on beloved IP to anchor studios’ summer slates while threading new talent into legacy casts. Zendaya's involvement, for instance, signals an attempt to blend the old guard’s comic chemistry with contemporary star power — a move that can refresh a franchise without erasing what made it popular.
There’s room for caution as well: long-running series can risk fatigue, but the Shrek brand’s subversive humor and strong fan community have historically kept it resilient. Early reactions mix nostalgia with curiosity: fans praise the balloon's charm but are eager to learn whether the new film will recapture the original’s sharp satire or head in a different, family-friendly direction.
Whether the brief Macy's glimpse is a clue to tone or simply a festive nod, it’s clear: Shrek is back on the cultural radar — and many moviegoers will be watching when the ogre returns to theaters next summer.
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