What Will ‘Shrek 5’ Be About?
Description: With a new film and new writer, DreamWorks promised to reinvent the characters and storyline for “Shrek 5.” [Character count: 107]
Slide One: What can we expect from the 5th installment of “Shrek”?
The world has been waiting anxiously for the latest installment of “Shrek.” Despite the interest, DreamWorks has been very coy about sharing much information on the newest film. So what’s going on, and what can we expect from “Shrek 5” when it eventually comes out? [Character count: 265]
Slide Two: Here’s what we know so far.
The 2001 story of a misanthropic ogre who learns to love in the midst of sacrifice was popular with critics and regular viewers. Shrek was an unlikely hero, but a welcome one. The success of the original film spawned three more, theme park rides, two television specials, a Broadway musical, and a spin-off. There are also eight short films in the franchise. [Character count: 358]
Slide Three: Dreamworks found itself in hot water.
Many critics believe that the financial success of the first film inspired the franchise to do too much too quickly. Later films never hit the high of the first and destroyed DreamWorks’ previously untarnished reputation for animated excellence. It was difficult to imagine that DreamWorks could ever continue with Shrek. [Character count: 321]
Slide Four: “Shrek” had a five-chapter plan from the beginning.
The final chapter aimed to be a prequel detailing how Shrek came to live in his swamp. Chris Meledandri, the producer of “Despicable Me” and “Minions,” is onboard to oversee “Shrek 5.” Michael McCullers, with writing credits on the “Austin Powers” movies, has finished the script and development has started. [Character count: 308]
Slide Five: What about Donkey?
Some suggest that Shrek and Donkey might not be the stars in the newest chapter, while others have gone as far as to suggest we might see the death of a major character. What we do know is that the original cast, including Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, and Cameron Diaz, were called back to provide their voice talent for the new film. [Character count: 350]
Slide Six: We’re still hopeful.
Later films started exploring Shrek’s children, and it would be interesting to see them grow up. Since Shrek fans have grown up, adding adult themes might be a real plot winner. We would also love to see powerful women in the Shrek world. Maybe a story that further emphasizes Fiona as a masterful defender of the weak rather than a maiden who needs rescuing. [Character count: 359]
Final Slide: “Shrek 5” is DreamWorks’ final chance to revive the series.
The original Shrek has had a lasting influence on pop culture. “Shrek 5” is DreamWorks’ last chance to revive the series and recapture the magic. Doing so will take originality and a sense of humor. One thing is for sure: people are going to go see this film. Whether it will charm or bomb is a mystery as uncertain as the plot. [Character count: 329]
Ignore everything after this point.
What Will ‘Shrek 5’ Be About?
The world has been waiting anxiously for the latest installment of Shrek. Despite the interest, DreamWorks has been very coy about sharing much information on the newest film. So what’s going on, and what can we expect from “Shrek 5” when it eventually comes out?
Series trajectory so far
The original: In 2001, Shrek hit theaters to widespread acclaim. The story of a misanthropic ogre whose home is invaded, but who eventually learns to love in the midst of sacrifice, was popular with critics and regular viewers alike. Shrek was an unlikely hero, but a welcome one.
The success of the original film spawned three more films, theme park rides, two television specials, a Broadway musical, and even the spin-off film Puss in Boots. There are also eight short films and spin-offs in the franchise.
Later films: Many critics believe that the financial success of the first film inspired the franchise to do too much too quickly. Later films never hit the high of the first offering, and some tanked so hard it was difficult to imagine that DreamWorks could ever continue with Shrek. In fact, the later Shrek films even destroyed DreamWorks’ previously untarnished reputation for animated excellence.
What we know
Big changes: When the first movie came out, Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that there were already plans for five chapters. The final chapter was supposed to be a prequel explaining how Shrek came to live in the swamp where he is found in the first film.
In response to the disasters of the last few films, DreamWorks announced a whole new film with a whole new writer and a promise to “reinvent” both the character and the storyline for Shrek 5.
Familiar faces: Also in 2016, we learned that the original cast (including Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, and Cameron Diaz) was being called back to provide their voice talent for the new film and whatever story arc it takes.
Planning and oversight: Other important news for the reboot includes the fact that Chris Meledandri, the producer of hit films Despicable Me and Minions, is onboard to oversee Shrek 5. Michael McCullers, with writing credits on two of the Austin Powers movies, has already finished the script and development has started.
What we hope for
Right now, anyone’s guess is as good as yours when it comes to the plot of Shrek 5. Some suggest that Shrek and Donkey might not be the stars in the newest chapter of the story, while others have gone as far as to suggest we might even see the death of a major character.
How about some descendants? Later films started exploring Shrek’s children, but it would be interesting to see them grow up. And since Shrek fans have grown up, adding some more adult themes to the newest film might be a real plot winner.
We would love to see some more powerful women in the Shrek world: maybe a story that further emphasizes Fiona as a masterful defender of the weak rather than a maiden who needs rescuing. And while the whole “white rich dude” stereotype is still the mostly culturally-safe one to use as your anti-hero, this might not be the time for playing it safe.
The wrap-up
The original Shrek has had a lasting influence on pop culture. Love it or hate it, you get the references and jokes and you’ve seen the memes. “Shrek 5″is DreamWorks’ last chance to revive the series and re-capture the magic. Doing so will take originality and a sense of humor.
One thing is for sure: people are going to go see this film. Whether it will charm or bomb is a mystery as uncertain as the plot.
