Featured Image Credit: Hyperstar / Cinematic Collection / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Film and TV, Eddie Murphy
Ali Condon
Topics: Film and TV, Eddie Murphy
You can never have too many Shrek movies, apparently.
Just days before the latest spin-off in the franchise, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, hits UK cinemas Eddie Murphy has hinted that he wants to get involved in another Shrek adventure.
More than 20 years on from its release in cinemas, Shrek is still one of the biggest animated films of all time.
But after four hit movies (though only two really good ones, I said what I said), the focus turned from the beloved ogre to his furry friend Puss in Boots.
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Puss, played by Antonio Banderas, now has two of his own spin-off movies - the latest even earning an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film.
But Eddie Murphy thinks it's time for the return of another one of Shrek's friends. His best friend.
In a recent interview with E-Talk CTV, Eddie launched his campaign for the return of Donkey - and took a little dig at Puss while he was at it.
"Oh, I'd absolutely be open," he said when asked if he'd consider lending his vocal talents to the hilarious ass again.
"If they ever came with another Shrek, I'd do it in two seconds. I love Donkey.
"I wish they would... they did the Puss in Boots movies, I was like, 'They should've done a Donkey movie, Donkey is funnier than Puss in Boots!'
"I mean, I love Puss in Boots, but he ain't as funny as Donkey."
Shots fired.
So Eddie Murphy is game, but is a fifth Shrek film even on the cards?
We haven't had one since Shrek Forever After 13 years ago. Audiences were admittedly getting a little tired of Shrek, Fiona and co by then, and the films had started to lose a little bit of their touch.
But maybe now would be a good time to give it a whirl! Especially given the success of the latest Puss in Boots flick.
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell told The Hollywood Reporter this week that he's definitely not opposed.
"Just now, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish [was] a big hit at the box office and really our entry back into the Shrek universe," he said.
Sounds promising!
And he's right, the response Puss in Boots was unexpectedly huge.
The film has a score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and earned a worldwide total of $311.9 million at the box office.
Reviews of the film raved that DreamWorks animation was back in a big way, and that the Shrek franchise had essentially been revived.
With a response like that, how could DreamWorks not make another Shrek film? Or at least chance a Donkey spin-off next?