Delays are nothing new in the entertainment industry, as both films and video games frequently run into setbacks during development and production. Sometimes it’s due to creative differences, other times because of technical challenges, budget constraints, or unexpected outside factors. Still, one of the most recent delays — this time affecting the latest entry in one of the most iconic animated movie franchises — may have been triggered by an unusual and unexpected twist of events that fans themselves might have influenced.

When reflecting on the biggest animated releases of the past quarter of a century, it is nearly impossible not to highlight the dominance of Disney and Pixar. From the groundbreaking arrival of Toy Story in 1995 to cultural juggernauts like Frozen and Inside Out, Disney has remained at the forefront of the animation world. For years, the studio essentially set the gold standard. Yet in 2001, DreamWorks managed to shake up the landscape with the release of Shrek, a film that not only stood out with its irreverent humor and subversive fairy-tale style but also became a massive global phenomenon.

The green ogre’s story proved to be far more than a one-off success. Over the years, it spawned four main sequels, multiple spin-offs, and even a Broadway musical, cementing Shrek as a pop culture icon. Now, fans have been eagerly awaiting the long-discussed fifth entry. However, recent turmoil surrounding the production and release of Shrek 5 has sparked an unusual social media storm — one filled with jokes, speculation, and even mock theories about why the film has been pushed back yet again.

Why Do People Think Shrek 5 Was Delayed?

Originally, Shrek 5 had been scheduled to release in theaters on July 1, 2026. The date was later shifted to December 23, 2026, before being postponed yet again. Now, fans are being told they’ll have to wait until June 30, 2027, to see the beloved ogre return to the big screen. That’s a full year later than originally planned, leaving audiences both disappointed and puzzled.

Shrek 5's disappointing delay pushes it back to June 30, 2027 (Dreamworks)

According to early hints, the story of the new film will focus heavily on the family dynamics of Shrek and Fiona, particularly their teenage daughter Felicia. Her rebellious streak is expected to inject chaos into the narrative, adding a fresh layer to the family’s already comedic adventures. While production delays are common for movies set so far into the future, many fans online believe they’ve uncovered a bizarre explanation for this particular setback.

On X (formerly Twitter), a user named Antonio Chavez joked that the delay occurred “because everyone guessed the plot, so now they have to redo the film from scratch.” His post quickly went viral, with thousands of fans latching onto the idea that the studio might be scrambling to rewrite the movie after TikTok user @riggsreacts_ uploaded a detailed — though partly tongue-in-cheek — breakdown of the potential storyline. His guess was that Felicia would be a rebellious teenager eager to explore the outside world, while Shrek, ever the overprotective father, would try to stop her. Naturally, the tale would conclude with Shrek learning to loosen up and become a better parent.

Although this type of father-daughter storyline feels familiar — practically a trope in family films — there’s no concrete evidence to suggest it is the actual cause of the delay. And given that the release has only been pushed back by six months, it’s highly unlikely that DreamWorks would overhaul the entire narrative or restart animation from scratch based solely on fans predicting its broad strokes.

Other Possible Reasons for the Delay

Not all fans are convinced by the “plot leak” theory. Some have pointed instead to possible technical and visual issues. A number of online commenters have bluntly claimed that the movie was delayed “because the animation looks terrible,” specifically pointing to rumored stylistic changes in Shrek and Fiona’s character models. One fan added, “They realized they messed up real bad with the animation,” suggesting that the studio may be working on re-rendering or redesigning the characters before release.

This wouldn’t be unprecedented in the industry. A famous recent example is the 2019 Sonic the Hedgehog film, which completely redesigned its main character after fans harshly criticized the original look in the first trailer. The redesign took months but ultimately saved the movie’s reputation, with the new Sonic receiving widespread praise. It’s possible DreamWorks may be taking a similar approach with Shrek 5 to avoid backlash and ensure fans feel satisfied when the film finally arrives.

Whatever the true reason behind the delay, one thing is clear: anticipation for Shrek’s return remains sky-high. Even after more than two decades since the first film, the franchise continues to spark conversations, jokes, and memes across social media. If anything, the latest setback has only reminded audiences of just how deeply the ogre’s story is embedded in modern pop culture. Fans may be frustrated now, but when Shrek 5 eventually does hit theaters in 2027, it will likely draw crowds eager to see what new adventures — and chaos — await Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and the next generation of fairy-tale misfits.