Shrek 5is on its way, with the shocking announcement thatZendaya will be joining the cast as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter, but they still have two other kids whose actors have yet to be revealed. Essentially nothing is known about theplot ofShrek 5, other than the time jump confirmed by the teaser trailer that shows Shrek and Fiona’s now-adult daughter, who was an infant the last time we saw her. Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are all returning, with even the voice-over guy for the teaser pleasantly surprised by Zendaya’s inclusion.
TheShrekfranchise certainly got a publicity boost with Zendaya’s casting and could do it againwhen they announce who will be voicing Shrek and Fiona’s other two triplets. Notably, there is now widespread speculation that the daughter who appears in the trailer is trans, with detail-savvy fans pointing out that Felicia was the only baby who had blue eyes. While we might not know which kids have yet to be cast or the gender of any of them, a handful of actors in Zendaya’s peer group could bring fresh wit and heart to the story.
10Maya Hawke
Known For Stranger Things (2016-2025) & Inside Out 2 (2024)
Maya Hawke has been making her own name outside her parents' legacy, with roles in highly acclaimed titles such asOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood,Asteroid City,andMaestro. She is certainly familiar with the setting of an off-beat comedy from a couple of these projects, as well as that of a quirky fantasy from her breakout role as Robin inStranger Things. She brings a loveable but kitschy energy to all her characters.
However, Hawke also boasts an incredible voice-acting performance thanks to therecord-breakingInsideOut 2. Playing Anxiety, Hawke had to put a lot of exaggerated personality into her performance when this is characteristic of most of the personified emotions.Hawke perfectly captured Anxiety’s nervousness in an endearing, entertaining, and heartrending way,and could tell another great coming-of-age story inShrek 5.
9Jack Dylan Grazer
Known For It (2017) & Luca (2021)
Jack Dylan Grazer gives a very lively voice performance as Alberto in Pixar’sLuca. However, this role also includes some heartbreaking notes that show Grazer’s versatility in a recording booth. Additionally, Grazer is known for starring in the milestone horror duologyItandIt Chapter Two, as well as playing Freddy Freeman inShazam!At only 21 years old, he would be a very well-rounded choice for theShrekfranchise.
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Playing one of Shrek and Fiona’s kids, Grazer would certainly contribute to the consistent emotional core of the franchise, often about the responsibility for a partner or a family. However,the funniest moments inLucaprove that Grazer could also live up to Mikey Meyers and Eddie Murphy’s legendary humor.The new characters inShrek 5will need their own brand of comedy, and someone who has delivered in a Pixar dramedy would be a strong choice.
8Hunter Schafer
Known For Euphoria (2019-2026) & Cuckoo (2024)
Shrek 5could constitute a greatEuphoriareunion if Hunter Schafer joined the cast,whose career has been steadily climbing in recent years, following up herEuphoriabreakout role withThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,Cuckoo, andKinds of Kindness. Schafer’s voice acting experience is entirely providing the English voice-over for Ruka inBelle, but Zendaya has hardly any animated credits either. BothEuphoriastars are on the rise and would do well to move into animation, showcasing their skills in a different medium.
Schafer certainly has some impressive dramatic acting skills, which are on display inEuphoriaandCuckoo. However, her character Tigris Snow inThe Hunger Games, raised alongside her cousin Coriolanus, has a very deep, thoughtful kindness that could be great inShrek, especially with Schafer theoretically portraying a character who has siblings.
7Ella Purnell
Known For Arcane (2021-2024) & Fallout (2024-Present)
Ella Purnell is dominating the TV industry, with her roles inYellowjackets, Fallout, andSweetpeaearning her widespread acclaim for intense and darkly comedic performances. At this point, she is a dystopian heroine, an empathetic killer, and a tragic emblem.Ella Purnell’s exciting upcoming projectsprove that she is not slowing down, and Shrek 5 would be lucky to have her.
However,the true testament to Purnell’s ability to join the cast of an animated movie is, of course,Arcane,in which she voices the chaotic antihero Jinx. Purnell’s talents seamlessly transcend medium, as she made Jinx a volatile but heartrending and grounded figure in the conflict between Piltover and Zaun. Whatever characterization the writers want to introduce toShrek 5, Purnell would doubtlessly be able to handle it with another powerful voice performance.
6Blake Roman
Known For Hazbin Hotel (2024-Present)
Blake Roman is one of the highlights but perhaps an underrated member ofHazbin Hotel’s cast, voicing the troubled porn star Angel Dust. This is Roman’s first foray into voice acting and one of his few on-screen credits, in addition to his experience as a stage performer. However,Roman made a dazzling debut in the world of adult animation television,showing all the ways Angel can be obnoxious, devastated, and courageous just inHazbin Hotelseason 1.
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Roman is also a musical performer, singingHazbin Hotel’s best songalongside Keith David, in addition to his existing Broadway career. Roman could certainly play aShrekcharacter with a lot of flourish, as well as perhaps lending his vocals to another rock cover. The character designs ofHazbin Hotelare also very whimsical and exaggerated, speaking to the actor’s ability to make a spider demon or an ogre relatable.
5Vico Ortiz
Known For Our Flag Means Death (2022-2023)
Vico Ortiz often demonstrates a kind of understated comedy— the type that usually comes from restrained reactions to much more exaggerated characters doing something ridiculous. This is the bread and butter of their most well-known role inOur Flag Means Deathas the pirate Jim, who is usually the voice of reason among the crew — except for the one episode where Ortiz proves they are capable of flipping the script, and Jim drives the shenanigans by convincing the entire crew that Stede’s suit is cursed.
Such a talent would pair well with the likes of characters including Donkey, Pinocchio, Gingy, and co. Ortiz also has a decent amount of voice acting experience, and would not be completely out of their element in a recording booth. They have voiced guest characters in various TV projects, includingHarley Quinn, Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake, andThe Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island.
4Kimiko Glenn
Known For Orange Is The New Black (2013-2019) & Hazbin Hotel (2024-Present)
Kimiko Glenn can deliver fast and electric voice performances,playing characters like Horse inCentaurworldand Niffty inHazbin Hotel. The former is an overly noble steed and the latter a zipping ball of energy, both requiring Glenn to create distinctly fantastical personas. As proven by Niffty’s dynamic with Alastor, one of thebest duos inHazbin Hotel, as well as Horse and the various colorful cast members ofCentaurworld, Glenn also has the ability to foster adorable relationships between animated characters.
Glenn’s extensive voice-acting repertoire also includes Peni Parker inSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, while her live-action credits includeNerveandOrange is the New Black. She would be great inShrek 5because of how she creates truly unique and loveable characters who are able to stand out in an ensemble of over-the-top personalities.
3Kit Connor
Known For Heartstopper (2022-Present) & The Wild Robot (2024)
Kit Connor has been quietly building a resume in high-profile voice acting roles,putting a lot of sentiment into his voice in higher-stakes scenarios than some other more comedic animation projects. He is best known for playing Nick inHeartstopper, showcasing generally his talents in the drama and coming-of-age genres. However, he was also the vital character of Pantalaimon inHis Dark Materialsand Brightbill in the Oscar-nominated movieThe Wild Robot.
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When Pan is the embodiment of Lyra’s soul inHis Dark Materialsand Brightbill is the adopted child of the title character inThe Wild Robot, Connor’s acting must convey tangible emotions in cases where the character is conceptually both familiar to the audience and completely beyond their comprehension. However, it would also be great to see him lean more into comedic elements that there are some hints of in his character inThe Wild Robot, but without Pedro Pascal playing the funnier role.
2Elliot Page
Known For Inception (2010) & The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)
Elliot Page starred in some thoughtful and impactful comedy dramas as well as sci-fi action hits early in his career, namelyJunoandInception. He then became one of the stars of the unique superhero comedy-dramaThe Umbrella Academy, delivering a complex performance as Viktor coming into his own as a person and a superhero. Page is also now part of the impressivecast of Christopher Nolan’sThe Odyssey.
On the voice acting side of things, Page worked on the English version ofMy Life as a Zucchini, in addition to some other animated roles. His animated work reflects his live-action work in perhaps being softer than Shrek,but a characterization like Viktor could balance outShrek 5well when everyone else is more obvious in their humor.Page is also appearing in the upcoming animated movieNaya Legend of the Golden Dolphin, perhaps signaling an interest in doing more voice acting work.
1Brandon Rogers
Known For Helluva Boss (2019-Present)
If Mikey Meyers and Eddie Murphy feel like it takes up a lot of energy to voice their loud characters, Brandon Rogers has them both beat.Rogers is known for voicing the incredibly vulgar, always shouting, outrageous demon Blitzø inHelluva Boss,skills which are certainly compatible with theShrekfranchise (although probably using more family-friendly language). With significant voice acting experience, Rogers has also delivered in Blitzø’s most gut-wrenching and tear-jerking moments.
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While watching the Shrek 5 teaser, I had two thoughts: The design changes look like a very good AI replication, and the possibility that this was an attempt to create the same attention that the early clips of Sonic the Hedgehog received. I wouldn’t be surprised if production aren’t planning to keep these changes to the characters' appearances, and they only made this trailer purely for audience reaction. While it would be an awful lot of effort, stranger things in the movie industry have happened, and I’d consider Sonic the Hedgehog to be Shrek’s biggest franchise rival right now.
OutsideHelluva Boss, Rogers is known as a comedian and has done some other below-the-radar on-screen work. He would ultimately benefit theShrekfranchise with fast and sharp comedic timing that never lets up and could overtake some of the legacy stars. However, Rogers is just one talented actor who could joinShrek 5and completely transform the experience when there are multiple ogre triplets left to be cast.
