Summary
- Puss in Boots is not expected to appear in Shrek 5, despite his past popularity and success.
- His absence will negatively impact the movie as he has been a lead character in the franchise.
- Fans may be disappointed as Puss in Boots' previous spinoff teased Shrek's return, creating expectations for Shrek 5.
Many people are eagerly awaiting Shrek 5. The movie will finally take fans back to the world of Far, Far Away, as it's been over a decade since the popular green ogre last appeared on the big screen. While details about the DreamWorks movie are scarce at the moment, the first six characters have been confirmed.
Mike Myers will return to voice Shrek, and Cameron Diaz will play Princess Fiona, with Eddie Murphy reprising his role as the lovable sidekick Donkey. Cody Cameron is set to play Pinocchio, with Chris Miller as the Magic Mirror, and Zendaya will join the cast as Shrek and Fiona's daughter, Felicia. However, even though the early cast announcements are exciting, one notable absence might negatively impact the movie: Puss in Boots.
Shrek 5 Must Top These Previously Iconic Scenes
Shrek 5 needs to try and top some specific scenes that dominated the previous movies within this franchise.
Puss In Boots Isn't Expected To Appear In Shrek 5
This Is A Mistake, Given The Success Of The Puss In Boots Spinoff Movies
The Shrek franchise has always had a wonderful collection of colorful characters, but one of the most popular has been Puss in Boots. He brings a level of charisma, flair, and action skills that few other characters can provide, which has helped him stand out since his first appearance in Shrek 2. However, according to industry insider MyTimeToShineHello, Puss in Boots will not be part of Shrek 5 at all. Unless they decide to throw him into a post-credit scene, Puss in Boots is not slated to be involved, which many find surprising considering the prominent role he's played in the franchise.
This is a mistake on DreamWorks' behalf, given the role Puss in Boots has had in the Shrek franchise, and also because his spinoff movies were massively successful. The two films were beloved by fans and met with positive reviews from critics, all of which combined to help grow his reputation. Combined, the two Puss in Boots films made just short of $1 billion at the box office. The 2011 original spinoff grossed $545 million, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish followed it up by grossing $489 million. That makes the decision not to involve the character even stranger, because he has been proven to be a box office draw. Having Puss in Boots as part of Shrek 5 would have increased the intrigue level, which is essential given that it has been so long since the last Shrek film. After all, it was Puss in Boots who carried the franchise during that time.
Puss In Boots Has Been A Lead Character In The Franchise
His Absence In Shrek 5 Will Negatively Impact The Movie
Puss in Boots is a character that audiences will expect to see. In previous films, he's been one of the key parts of the ensemble cast, almost to the same level as Donkey. However, he offers a lot of things that Donkey doesn't, even though he can't provide the same comedic relief. Puss is ideal for action scenes that might be needed throughout the movie, but he's also been a sensitive character. He can often calm Shrek down when required, which has led to several emotional scenes. Without him, Shrek 5 will be missing a fleshed-out character that has multiple layers to offer. Puss in Boots is easy to place into any aspect of the story, as the character is flexible. Yet, it appears DreamWorks doesn't want to tap into that.
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Seemed To Tease Shrek's Return
Audiences Will Be Disappointed With DreamWorks Not Following This Up
The Puss in Boots spinoff movies have been entertaining, allowing the franchise to continue without Shrek's involvement. The stories told were engaging enough for that decision to make sense, and they felt unique in their own right thanks to their animation style and tone. However, the final scene of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish seemed to set up Shrek's return, which is one of the reasons fans have been talking so much about a potential fifth movie in recent years. Puss in Boots, Perrito the chihuahua, and Kitty Soft Paws were all spotted sailing toward Far Far Away at that moment. The voiceover even spoke about him going to see "old friends." Most people took that as an allusion to Shrek and the rest of the gang, which could take place in a future Shrek film or a potential Puss in Boots 3.
Audiences who watched that movie will now be disappointed that the scene doesn't get any follow-up. Unless there is some form of explanation made within Shrek 5, this creates the potential for frustration, which is the last thing DreamWorks would want. This situation would have been easily avoidable by including Puss in Boots as part of the story, even if it was only in a limited role. Instead, the popular feline character isn't going to be part of a movie that he has been heavily involved in before, and the film may be worse off for it.
Shrek 5
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- December 23, 2026
- Director
- Walt Dohrn, Conrad Vernon, Brad Ableson
- Writers
- Michael McCullers, Christopher Meledandri, William Steig
- Producers
- Chris Meledandri, Gina Shay
Cast
-
ZendayaFelicia -
Eddie MurphyDonkey (voice) -
Cameron DiazPrincess Fiona (voice) -
Mike MyersShrek (voice)
