The first trailer for Shrek 5 just dropped, and the internet is not okay. After 13 years of waiting, DreamWorks finally gave fans a glimpse of the beloved ogre’s return—but his shocking new look has sparked a wildfire of memes, confusion, and flat-out fury.
Social media exploded minutes after the trailer’s release, with fans accusing the studio of turning Shrek into a “smooth-skinned TikTok e-boy,” a “Photoshop disaster,” and even “Fiona’s distant cousin who does yoga.” One viral tweet screamed, “WHAT DID THEY DO TO HIM?! This isn’t my swamp king!” while another joked, “Shrek got the Elon Musk hair plugs treatment.”
The controversy centers on Shrek’s redesigned features: his signature lumpy green skin appears oddly polished, his ears are smaller, and his iconic messy haircut now looks suspiciously… stylish. Some fans speculate it’s a plot-driven change—maybe a curse or midlife crisis?—but others aren’t buying it. “This is Shrek, not Twilight,” argued a Reddit user. “Since when does an ogre need a glow-up?”
Even celebrities are weighing in. Comedian Patton Oswalt tweeted, “Shrek 5’s design team clearly spent too much time on ‘Velma’ reboots,” and Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo posted a side-by-side of the old and new Shrek with the caption, “Corporate needs you to find the difference…”
DreamWorks hasn’t commented yet, but insiders hint the redesign ties into the movie’s rumored storyline, where Shrek navigates a “multiverse of ogres.” (Yes, really.) A leaked crew member’s Instagram story teased, “Wait for Act 3—it’ll all make sense.”
Whether this is a clever twist or a CGI nightmare, one thing’s clear: Shrek fans are invested. The trailer racked up 10 million views in two hours, proving the ogre’s still got it—even if “it” now includes a skin-care routine.
Shrek 5 hits theaters in May 2025. Grab your torches and pitchforks… or just popcorn.