DreamWorks made themselves a cultural icon when they released the highly successful Shrek film back in 2001, based on the children’s book by William Steig.  The gloriously gross green ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) went on to become an animated superstar.  The successful ‘opening act’ inevitably led DreamWorks into development of the long-awaited sequel with Shrek 2, which opened in theaters in 2004.  Both films were critically acclaimed while also garnering several awards — including Shrek taking home the first ever Academy Award given for Best Animated Feature.

Then predictably the two animated smash hits were followed up by Shrek the Third.  Despite the brilliance of the first two offerings, the third film lacked charm and may have soured some of the good feelings established by Shrek 1 and 2.  That being said, fans are going to be sure to tread lightly before possibly getting excited about a fourth — and supposedly final — helping of Shrek in 3-D.

The fourth film in the franchise, Shrek Forever After, was announced in 2007 under the title of “Shrek Goes Fourth” as DreamWorks reported a 2010 release.  Just this week a few new items have surfaced such as plot details and images.

“All that was loved about Shrek in the first film is brought to the final film,” promises Bill Damaschke, head of creative production at DreamWorks. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz are back as the voices of Shrek, sidekick Donkey and ogress wife Fiona.

The premise is the Brothers Grimm meet It’s a Wonderful Life: After rescuing a princess, getting hitched and fathering triplets, Shrek is feeling over-domesticated. “He has lost his roar,” says director Mike Mitchell (Sky High, Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo). “It used to send villagers running away in terror. Now they run to him and ask him to sign their pitchforks and torches.”

To regain his ogre mojo, he strikes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin, the wee troublemaker who popped up briefly in Shrek 2 and 3.

Look for the first Shrek Forever After trailer to hit theaters on December 18, piggy-backing off of the debut of James Cameron’s much-anticipated Avatar.

I am personally looking forward to this latest installment, if not for any other reason than to (hopefully) see the Shrek series go out the same way it came in — Big, bold and brash…but with the heart of a saint.

Source(s):
First look: ‘Shrek Forever After’: Fourth, final film is first in 3-D [USA Today via Slash Film]