With the recent success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, there's no doubt that the Shrek franchise can continue its reign, especially if one trend that has appeared throughout the franchise continues. The first Shrek movie hit theaters in 2001 and developed into a major franchise, adding three more films about the iconic ogre and two spin-off movies centering Puss in Boots. Rumors of Shrek 5 have been floating around for several years now, and while the film seems to be definitely happening, no release date has been confirmed or even hinted at by studios.

It's unlikely that a Shrek 5 movie would fail in theaters, but there are certainly some details that could expedite its success. For example, bringing in the franchise's original cast of Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas as Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and Puss respectively would be key to bringing audiences back into theaters. Additionally, as Puss in Boots: The Last Wish showed, Shrek 5 could delve into darker themes and topics that balance out the franchise's silly antics. All in all, there is one trend that the Shrek franchise has developed over the years that would certainly be helpful and exciting for Shrek 5.

Shrek 5 Needs To Cast More Big Names

Shrek hugging Donkey and Puss in Boots in the Shrek fanchise

A significant move that Shrek 5 could make is casting some big names to appear in the film alongside the main cast. When Shrek first came out, it relied fairly heavily on its two leads, Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy, due to their previous comedic fame. However, the next films began to accumulate more iconic actors and figures until a majority of the films' roles were taken by well-known celebrities. Some examples include John Cleese and Julie Andrews as Fiona's parents, Justin Timberlake and John Krasinski as Arthur Pendragon and Lancelot in Shrek the Third, and even Regis Philbin as Mabel in Shrek Happily Ever After.

Related: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Set Up Shrek 5 Entirely By Accident

While the Shrek franchise's films have succeeded for countless reasons, its star-studded casts have definitely made an impact. Recognizing the voices of well-known and beloved stars is a thrill for both adult and child viewers, and acts as a sort of inside joke or twist when audiences realize whose voice they're listening to. On the other hand, if viewers are familiar with the cast, then they have their favorite actors to look forward to. Shrek's ability to bring comedians, dramatic actors, and public figures together into one movie is a testament to its power as a franchise, and this trend should definitely be bigger and better with Shrek 5.

The Best Names For A New Shrek Movie To Cast

Shrek bursts from his outhouse in Shrek

The best choice Shrek 5 can make in terms of casting is bringing on celebrities who are popular at the current moment. The most recent Shrek film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish cast stars like Florence Pugh, John Mulaney, and Olivia Colman, all of whom are prominent in their genres. In the same way, Shrek 5 could have similar additions to the film including popular comedians like Nick Kroll, Ben Schwartz, Quinta Brunson, or Pete Davidson. In terms of dramatic actors, Pedro Pascal, Zendaya, Anya Taylor-Joy, or Andrew Garfield would be exciting choices because of their vast fanbases.

Because Shrek 5 will have a bigger scale than Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the casting possibilities are seemingly endless. Like in past Shrek films, Shrek 5 should attempt an epic comeback, mixing familiar characters with entirely new ones. By doing this, anticipation will build among audiences, and the film will not only be successful but bring viewers back into theaters. In this way, the cast of Shrek 5 will be vital in exciting audiences.