ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Shrek 4" Going the Prequel Route?

"Shrek 4" Going the Prequel Route?

by Scott Weinberg | May 20, 2007

When your mega-money franchise starts to run out of steam (creatively, not financially), what do you do? You go backwards and start planning a prequel!

According to sources, DreamWorks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg wants "Shrek 4" to be an "origin story," a desire that goes a long way towards explaining why Jeffrey Katzenberg isn't a screenwriter. "Katzenberg insists he always envisioned four chapters in the Shrek tale, and No. 4 will explore the green ogre's origins," is what we're being told, and some of us will choose to remember that when "Shrek 5" hits theaters in 2012.

A prequel?? Somebody get my agent on the phone!

Early word is that the next "Shrek" will be written by Tim Sullivan and directed by Mike Mitchell, but "Shrek the Third" was written by about a half-dozen people, so we'll see how that goes.

Correction: Paramount has informed us that Josh Klausner will be writing "Shrek 4," not Tim Sullivan as reported above.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, IGN Movies

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(1-12 of 12 posts) | Reply

CannibalPenguins writes:
on May 21 2007 04:48 AM

Shrek 4, Shrek 5?
What about Shrek The Halls, and that Puss in Boots movie?

*counts*

Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek 3, Shrek The Halls, Puss, Shrek 4, Shrek 5

That's 7 movies!

And that would be 5 too many. Shrek was awesome, and Shrek 2 is and always will be the best in the franchise.

You can never have too many pop culture references!

(Reply to this)

Shatter24 writes:
on May 21 2007 05:57 AM

[b]They ran out of steam with Shrek 3[/b]
Too many people cooking the Shrek broth, made for a bland experience. Too bad to ruin such a witty franchise, I only laughed a few times in the whole film (the audience was mostly quiet too). The movie missed more than it hit. A disappointment.

(Reply to this)

Merlin235 writes:
on May 21 2007 06:39 AM

Shrek 4 should be 'the movie that never got made' type.

(Reply to this)

BrokebackYoda writes:
on May 21 2007 07:18 AM

How about they end it with a trilogy...because who's gonna wanna see a prequel without donkey and puss...? But I am sure they will find a way to put them in there. I say they do the puss spin-off and that's the end. Shrek 3 I thought was hilarious by the way.

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on May 21 2007 08:07 AM

3 was enjoyable but definitely not as good as the first two, while I love Puss I kinda think a prequel might be the wise way to go for Shrek 4.

(Reply to this)

Slipperypick writes:
on May 21 2007 11:38 AM

No, no, no...
3 is enough... While I don't think the 3rd was as bad as the critics did, it's definitely not as good as the first two. Please, somebody stop the insanity! I know the studios love the cash, but doesn't anyone out there care about integrity?

(Reply to this)

Mr. Kong writes:
on May 21 2007 01:25 PM

[b]Please God, don't let them do this..[/b]
Shrek 3 wasn't as bad as the critics said. It wasn't great, but it was solid, if corny. 4 is just too much, and going the prequel route only worsens matters.

(Reply to this)

randal1013 writes:
on May 21 2007 01:43 PM

why don't they stop pussy-futting and just admit they're only making these dumb movies for the purpose of selling merchandise and happy meals? 3 shreks is two too many, 4 is beyond ridiculous.

(Reply to this)

rdproductions writes:
on May 21 2007 02:09 PM

Can Dreamworks Animation make something outside of Shrek? The first two were huge let downs at the start. Is it me, or has the animation department fallen down the hill after 3D CGI came out? Also, why have audiences switched from original live action films to these computer cartoons? Did anyone here watch the Lion King or Aladdin as an adult when they came out? Just like I want every other movie studio to do, stop making so many sequels. What is this, the 80's again? Before making a sequel, ask if it's really that necessary.

(Reply to this)

Merlin235 writes:
on May 21 2007 03:22 PM

Personally I don't mind sequels as much as the next person, but if I never saw another Shrek movie I couldn't care less. They never grabbed me.

(Reply to this)

dagreenman18 writes:
on May 21 2007 03:43 PM

No wonder it didn't work. The writing staff was at a disconnect, thats why the movie didn't feel consitant, not to mention it felt really short. Most of the good parts of the movie where shown in trailers, and great talents like Eric Idle, John Krazinski, and even Mike Myers where under utilized and phoned in. Especially Eric Idle. merlin should have been a hightlight of this movie, instead he becomes marginalized and boring. That stupid Puss/Donkey switch was pointless.and where was the sense of drama? that part where Shrek is rushing to stop Charming from kissing Fiona before midnight? that whole scene was extremly well done. where was that in this movie? No where. That hurts me considering Shrek 1 and 2 are some of my favorite movies. This is the Godfather 3 of cartoon movies.

The only good thing about this movie was the part with the Gingerbread man's life flashing before his eyes. That was pretty funny. Oh, and that part with Snow White and "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin

(Reply to this)

jeanpaul writes:
on May 22 2007 08:40 AM

[b]DISNEY STILL RULES.[/b]
Walt Disney still makes better classic/digital animation flicks better than DREAMWORKS. More entertaining and more orignal and more enjoyable.

Even "Shrek" which made fun of "everything Disney related"--- has now bombed and shown it's true unappealing colors.

(Reply to this)

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