Eddie Murphy gives fans 'Shrek 5' update, reveals Donkey is 'gonna have his own movie' next

Jay Stahl, USA TODAY
·2-min read

Eddie Murphy is returning to the fairytale-fueled world of "Shrek."

In an interview with Collider published Monday, Murphy opened up about voice acting as "Donkey" in the franchise's next film. "We started doing 'Shrek' four or five months ago," Murphy told Collider, while promoting his latest "Beverly Hills Cop" installment, "I recorded the first act, and we'll be doing it this year, we'll finish it up."

"Another 'Shrek'is coming out, and Donkey's gonna have his own (spin-off) movie," Murphy said, adding later that he thinks "Shrek 5" will be released sometime in 2025.

The fifth film was announced last year although Murphy's original co-stars Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona) and Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots) have yet to confirm their involvement in the movie.

Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt team up in new trailer for 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'

The last "Shrek" movie "Shrek Forever After" was released in 2010 but two popular "Puss In Boots" spinoffs starring Banderas have thrilled moviegoers since then. Murphy starred as Donkey, a fan favorite and arguably the franchise's most popular character, in the first four films.

Eddie Murphy also reprises role in 'Beverly Hills Cop' franchise with 'Beverly Hills: Axel F'

Eddie Murphy attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" with co-star Judge Reinhold.
Eddie Murphy attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" with co-star Judge Reinhold.

Aside from returning to voice Donkey for the new "Shrek" movie, Murphy is back in Beverly Hills causing a stir.

The generational funnyman reprises his role as Detective Axel Foley in the new Netflix comedy "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F," streaming July 3. "Axel F" is the long-awaited fourth film in the buddy cop franchise, starring Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser and Kevin Bacon.

The streaming service released a new trailer for the movie last month, in which Murphy Axel Foley is seen being arrested for operating (and crashing) a stolen helicopter and using unorthodox practices while going undercover.

"This is very embarrassing," Foley says in the trailer as police usher him into a squad car. "Part of me would rather get locked up than get put in this little Fisher-Price-looking squad car. Y'all are the LEGO cops."

The film follows Murphy's Detroit detective, who heads back to Beverly Hills when his daughter (Taylour Paige) is threatened, teaming up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his old pals (Reinhold and Ashton) to uncover a conspiracy.

Contributing: Patrick Ryan

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eddie Murphy talks 'Shrek 5,' reveals Donkey spinoff

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