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Seventeen years since he was last on screen, Shrek is making a comeback, but not all fans are looking forward to his return.Universal Pictures released a new trailer for the highly-anticipated "Shrek 5" on Tuesday, June 16, teasing a theatrical release in summer 2027. Talks of the fifth iteration of the beloved animated franchise, starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, have been ongoing since 2024. And though fans are eager to see their favorite characters on screen, many are discouraged by the teaser's new animation style."We want the old Shrek back not this!" one Instagram user commented on a Universal Pictures' Instagram post promoting the trailer.Just shy of a minute-and-a-half, the new trailer follows Shrek, Donkey, Fiona and Shrek's three children as they travel to Further Further Away. But amid the journey, the sextet wind up in jail.What are fans saying about the 'Shrek 5' trailer?The new "Shrek 5" trailer has received mixed reviews. Some are excited that the franchise is continuing, unbothered by the way it looks."I don't think they're as bad as people were initially making them out to be," TikTok user hzjoe said of the new character designs in a video.But many remain concerned."Not discrediting the animators at all, but this is not the right style for Shrek at all," one Instagram user commented on Universal's post. "Looks pretty dull as well."This isn't the first time "Shrek 5" has received mix reviews for its new looks. When an initial teaser was released in February 2025, fans also criticized Shrek's "airbrushed" and "over polished" look.When the first teaser dropped, some fans hoped Universal would go back to the drawing board, just like Paramount did with the "Sonic" film. After hearing complaints about the trailer's too-realistic computer-generation animation, Paramount and the film's director, Jeff Fowler, delayed the first "Sonic" release to redo the main character.Reactions to the "Shrek 5" trailer indicate some fans were hopeful the filmmakers would hear fans' pleas."I thought they fixed it by now," one Instagram user commented on Universal's post. "Do what they did with Sonic," another said.Others expressed their concern with the plot of the upcoming film."On top of the animation not being the best, a lot of people just feel like after watching the new trailer for 'Shrek 5,' the entire plot of the movie itself just seems very uninteresting, and I 100% agree," content creator evenmorebrandonspam said in a recent TikTok video. "After watching the trailer for myself, I was basically just cringing the entire time. To be honest, I'm not very excited to see 'Shrek 5' at all."Watch the 'Shrek 5' trailerWhen does 'Shrek 5' release?"Shrek 5" is set to release in theaters during summer 2027, according to the newly released trailer.Who makes up the 'Shrek 5' cast?Confirmed cast, per the trailer, include:Mike Myers as ShrekEddie Murphy as DonkeyCameron Diaz as FionaZendaya as Shrek's daughter FeliciaMarcello Hernandez as Shrek's son FergusSkyler Gisondo as Shrek's son FarkleHow to watch other 'Shrek' movies"Shrek," "Shrek 2," "Shrek the Third" and "Shrek Forever After" are available for streaming on Peacock. The movies are also available to rent and buy on Prime Video.Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
