First look at Shrek Forever After

According to USA Today, the once-upon-a-time spoofing that began with 2001′s Shrek will conclude when Shrek Forever After, the fourth computer-animated comic adventure starring the hygiene-challenged ogre — and the first in 3-D — arrives May 21. A trailer premieres Dec. 18 at showings of Avatar. The first photo from the movie, featuring Shrek and Rumpelstiltskin, can be seen above.

“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. “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.

Though certain websites wrongly, and somewhat bizarrely, list Paul McCartney as the voice of the vile schemer, it is actually non-Beatle Walt Dohrn, the film’s head of story, who does the honors.

Of course, the pact goes awry and Shrek must confront what life would be like in Far Far Away if he had never existed. That translates into Donkey being forced into cart-pulling duty, fat and lazy Puss in Boots trading his sword for a pink bow and the underhanded Rumpelstiltskin ruling the kingdom.

No Shrek outing would be complete without new characters, and there are a bunch. Comedians Kathy Griffin and Kristin Schaal are witches who hunt ogres. On the side of good is an underground resistance group led by Jon Hamm of Mad Men. “He is the best-looking ogre you’ve ever seen,” Mitchell says.

Is this great news or what?!

More info on Shrek Forever After

CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg addressed investors yesterday in Gotham where DreamWorks Animation unveiled their 2009-2012 lineup and announced plans for five features every two years. The fourth installment of the Shrek-saga, Shrek Goes Fourth has been renamed to Shrek Forever After (perhaps they’ll even spell it fourever, get it?). Here’s what the story will be about:

While dreaming about what life was like before he was a family man, Shrek is tricked into signing an agreement with Rumplestiltskin.  The pact lands Shrek in an alternate version of Far Far Away and Shrek must find a way to undo all the changes.

Interested? The movie will hit theaters on May 21, 2010. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas are all reprising their roles. More voice actors are still to be unveiled.

Information about upcoming projects

Just thought I’d check in and let you know of some of the news surrounding Cameron’s upcoming projects. First off: My Sister’s Keeper. According to a close source (director?), the trailer for this movie – in theaters June 26 – will supposedly see the daylight on April 17. My guess is that it’ll play before 17 Again, which is another New Line Cinema film. Very excited to see more from this movie!

Next: The Box. This movie has seen many push-backs. First it was supposed to be hitting cinemas late 2008, then it was pushed back to February this year, then November 6 and now to November 25. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that The Box will stay there. I’m still eager to see it!

And for last: A rumored plot summary for the fourth (!) installation of the Shrek series – Shrek Goes Fourth – have been unveiled. Check it out below, then let me know what you think of it. And more importantly; do you think it’s real?

After challenging an evil dragon, rescuing a beautiful princess and saving your in-laws’ kingdom, what’s an ogre to do? Well, if you’re Shrek, you suddenly wind up a domesticated family man. Instead of scaring villagers away like he used to, a reluctant Shrek now agrees to autograph pitch forks. What’s happened to this ogre’s roar? Longing for the days when he felt like a “real ogre,” Shrek is duped into signing a pact with the smooth-talking dealmaker, Rumplestiltskin. Shrek suddenly finds himself in a in a twisted, alternate version of Far Far Away, where ogres are hunted, Rumplestiltskin is king and Shrek and Fiona have never met. Now, it’s up to Shrek to undo all he’s done in the hopes of saving his friends, restoring his world and reclaiming his one True Love.

Tom Cruise won’t go Fourth

Despite a flurry of stories on the Web over the past two weeks, Cruise is not —repeat, not— a candidate to voice the villain in Shrek Goes Fourth for DreamWorks Animation. “As of today, there is no truth to the Tom Cruise-Shrek 4 rumor,” rep Jeff Raymond tells E! News without further explanation.

Source: E! Online

Tom Cruise in “Shrek Goes Fourth”?

Rumor has it that Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise has been considered for a part in Shrek Goes Fourth. According to Cinema Blend, the 46-year-old may be on the run to voice one of the villains in the next installment of the Ogre comedic tale. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the truth in Cruise’s participation has yet to be proven.

Shrek Goes Fourth, the fourth installment of the hit animation movies from DreamWorks, has been said to be dealing with the origin story of the titular character. Allegedly, it will have its four main actors, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas, back to fill in their characters’ voices. The flick is slated for May 21, 2010 release.

Source: Cinema Blend

This would be the second time (or third time, if you count Cameron’s cameo in Minority Report) Cami and Tom work together. Your opinions on having his voice in the new Shrek movie?

Official title for the 4th “Shrek”

Quick update: DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg has announced that the fourth installment of the “Shrek”-saga is called “Shrek Goes Fourth”. It is scheduled to hit theaters on May 21, 2010.