Summary

The Shrek universe plans to create a shared universe with multiple spin-off movies, similar to the MCU.
Animation movies like Shrek cater to a different audience and may not benefit from a shared universe format.
It may be too late to introduce a shared universe for Shrek, and the franchise should focus on delivering quality standalone movies.

Shrek is one of the most popular animated franchises in history, with the green ogre having become a beloved figure worldwide. Now, 24

years after the original movie was released, there are potential plans for a shared universe based on this popular DreamWorks franchise.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the greatest example of a shared universe in the movie industry, and while that has proven to be a monumental success, that doesn’t mean it’s the right move for every franchise. The world of Shrek becoming a shared universe is a risky decision at this stage.

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Posts 5

By Matthew Wilkinson

How The Shrek Universe Is Planning To Copy The MCU

There Are Going To Be Multiple Spin-Off Movies From This World

Over the years, four Shrek movies have been released, along with two short films, with the most recent being Shrek Forever After, which was released in 2010. However, the franchise returned, albeit without the green ogre, in 2022 with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The spin-off, focused on the popular feline, proved to be a critical and commercial success, demonstrating that this universe remains capable of delivering quality. This was followed by the announcement that Shrek 5 will be released in 2026, and it has now been reported that Donkey will be getting his own spin-off film. Eddie Murphy will step out of the comedic sidekick role to take on the lead in his own animated movie, opening up the opportunity for a shared universe to begin.

The Puss in Boots spin-off had nods to the Shrek universe, especially when they were sailing to Far, Far Away, and it feels like DreamWorks is looking to emulate Marvel Studios here by creating a universe where multiple films can coexist. Shrek films will essentially serve as Avengers-level movies in this world, while the likes of Puss in Boots and Donkey can then have their own individual movies. However, unlike the MCU, DreamWorks doesn’t have a plethora of characters to tap into for individual movies. While there are lots of popular supporting characters in the Shrek films, it’s hard to imagine any of them other than Princess Fiona being given their own movies. That means the shared universe would be fairly limited; therefore, DreamWorks would be best off just making each movie stand on its own for people to enjoy.

Animation Movies Don’t Bring The Same Level Of Commitment As Superhero Films

There Is A Different Target Audience Being Focused On

One of the significant challenges in creating a shared universe for the Shrek franchise is that animated movies typically attract a different audience than comic book movies. Typically, people go to watch an animated film and then they leave it alone until a possible sequel comes out. Audiences aren’t actively seeking spin-offs that provide a shared universe, as the 2022 movie Lightyear proved, with the Buzz Lightyear-related movie being a flop, despite Toy Story’s popularity. These movies are typically aimed at a young generation, and they’re not fixated on storylines that intertwine between multiple films, with clever nods and subtle hints to previous movies. Instead, younger moviegoers just want to see an entertaining movie that they can enjoy. Shrek movies should aim to entertain the whole family, without requiring viewers to watch multiple films to understand every detail. It’s something that people should be able to relax and watch whenever they like, and the decision to potentially overcomplicate that formula could prove to be a significant risk that backfires.

The Shrek Franchise Should Just Focus On Delivering Quality Movies

It Is Too Late For A Shared Universe From Shrek Characters

Ultimately, any future Shrek movies or spin-offs related to the franchise should just focus on creating an entertaining story that people can enjoy, without overcomplicating the situation. After such a long gap since audiences last saw the iconic ogre, DreamWorks will be appealing to a whole new generation of people, and that will require a lot of work to make the film just as successful as it previously was. That’s why it would be a better move not to be too complex at this stage with multiple spin-offs and a shared universe, and instead just get the basics right. Another issue is that it feels too late for a Shrek shared universe, as the franchise reached its peak in the early 2000s. While a new Shrek movie is currently in development, there is no guarantee that it will regain the popularity the franchise once enjoyed. Shared universes might have become the trend within the movie industry due to Marvel’s success, but pulling it off is a lot harder than it seems, and it becomes even more complex for a franchise that is as old as Shrek. Expanding Shrek before it has successfully returned is a risk, and one that isn’t worth taking at this particular time.