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FIRST LOOK

First Photo from Shrek Forever After and a Storyline Update

by Alex Billington
November 25, 2009
Source: USA Today

That photo you see above is the "very first" official photo from DreamWorks Animation's Shrek Forever After. USA Today has a new first look article today debuting the photo as well as some new information on the franchise. Let's get the most important news out of the way first. Shrek Forever After is, sadly, the final film in the Shrek franchise (although I'm sure it'll still continue with straight-to-DVD spin-offs and sequels). "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. And as for the story, here's the new description from USA Today.

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.

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.

This may sadly be the end of a popular franchise (for those who are fans at least), but it sounds like this is the perfect story to go out with. The huge voice cast for this one includes Cameron Diaz, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Amy Poehler, John Lithgow, Maya Rudolph, Amy Sedaris, Eric Idle, Larry King, and Regis Philbin. And a few more newcomers include Kathy Griffin and Kristin Schaal as well as Jon Hamm of Mad Men. "He is the best-looking ogre you've ever seen," Mitchell reveals. For those anxious to see a trailer, there will be one playing in front of Avatar in December. Any fans still left?

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Andrew 3000

I dunno that I'm gonna be SAD to see Shrek go. It really feels like a fourth may be overkill... however, I enjoy the nuggets of plot that we're getting, and honestly, if it can rinse out the taste of Shrek the Third, all will be well in Far Far Away. I guarantee you that the only reason I'm not chomping at the bit for this one is the memory of how truly awful that last film was.
Kaiser

I didn't think the last one was that bad, it was definitely the weakest link but not that bad, my little boy LOVES it, it watches it over and over. I am looking forward to this one, the cast sounds great and I think Kirstin Schaal has the perfect voice for this kind of work. It is good to see that Lord Farquaad is coming back too. Can't wait to see the trailer in December.
mike

Sad!? Shrek lost all appeal after the second one..in fact during the second one... I am glad i dont have to suffer through the annoying marketing for a fifth time... thank god that awful series will be gone...until they come out with Shrek 5... Please bomb on the box office, Shrek 4!
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2408/blackbabyjesus.gif Crapola

Shrek gave AIDS to my eyes and cancer to my ears. I've only watched the first one, that was enough.
600RR

Its typical DreamWorks animation department. The first one was great lets just keep making them until people can't take it anymore. (Madagascar any one.) I won't lie I really liked the first one. After that same old stuff. I will netflix it just to see how bad it is.
quez

NOOOo it cnt be the last 1 ima shrek fan 4ever!!!!....................sike! i like the first 2 and the 3rd waz just o.k. but this 1 looks like its just gunna be o.k. ill c but i im excited 2 c it leave theaters!
http://www.bleepinggeek.com Pete the Geek

I'm by no means a fan of Dreamworks animation style (with all the stupid pop culture jokes and hipster music montages and whatnot), but story-wise, this seems like the logical progression for the series - the first was about finding and getting the girl, the second was meeting the parents and getting hitched, the third was becoming a responsible adult and having kids, the fourth is his mid-life crisis. Presumably, the fifth (which WILL get made the next time Dreamworks needs a quick buck, just like Pixar does when they trot out the Toy Story franchise) will center around incontinence and the threat of Shrek's kids putting him in a home.
Mr.Cookie

Wasn`t the fifth one supposed to be the last?Kinda sad to see Shrek go but everything comes to an end,I guess. Until they make Shrek 5 to make a quick buck.
Greedo

Straight to DVD.
Spider94

the third movie just killed it and now a fourth movie? well thank god its the last one or i hope so
Dave Lister, J.M.C.

Mike Myers is determined to utterly destroy his Scottish accent shtick.
Claudia

You mean there's not gonna be another 2 sequels like they said before? YAY!!
Antioch

I actually liked the last one - it was entertaining! Doesn't have to be cinematic brilliance, guys - just fun
Cody

There just milking it....No plans on seeing this.
Cineprog

I think the shreck franchise as run it course
wHiskey Tango...

I admit. I thought it was funny -and pretty nice that a Non-disney fairytale has had this much milage. I'm sure if they continue to make money and keep stories fresh, people will come. There will always be 3-4 year olds. I think it'd really have to flop in order to to halt future projects. Like it or not, it's a franchise.
Capobella

To #4 that is an incredibly offensive thing to say. Referencing AIDS and Cancer? Seriously? If you stopped watching after the first one, then why comment about a potential 4th one? Shrek 1 and 2 were amazing. Shrek 3 sucked. That's my stance. That said, I am excited to see a 4th and see if they can learn from their mistakes and go back to what made it funny in the first place. The plot sounds interesting and I'll give it a shot. If it sucks, then oh well. If it's great again, then it's a good send off for a franchise I thoroughly enjoyed.
Mr.Cookie

Thinking about that supposed fifth Shrek film,aren`t they going to make the Puss In Boots spinoff for 2011?Would that still be in theaters?
Frame

They're pimping the hell out of this franchise. I guess once they've completely milked this one dry next up to be ruined will be, I dunno, Kung Fu Panda? So which is coming first anyway? Shrek 4 or Shrek Origins: Puss In Boots?
guh

In Monty Python Almost the Truth it showed John Cleese doing the voice-over for one of the character's in this movie. How could you not mention him in that all-star line up cast?
samuel j

enough already
Tra la la la la di da

YES!!!! IT IS OVER!!! I didn't mind the first one but after that...yeah.
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2408/blackbabyjesus.gif Crapola

@ Capobella My granddad died of cancer, and on his deathbed I asked him if the pain of the disease was as bad as Shrek 2, he said watching Shrek was far worse. And my junkie uncle, crippled with the pain of dying of HIV also said that Shrek was even worse than the hallucinations brought on by years of heroin abuse and the pain caused by his skinny legs being unable to take the weight of his body. I can comment on whatever I want, it's the internet, chances are I'll probably die of cancer or a heart attack anyway, I'm Scottish, like Shrek funnily enough, just a shame he never died of liver failure, the useless fat green jobby.
http://www.muscletower.com/ Kail

I liked the original plot for Shrek 2, it was similar to this plot actually: Shrek, now married and hating it, wishes he could go somewhere else, he ends up being brought to present day New York and everyone's just as rude as he is. Or something like that. That would've made for a good Shrek movie.
Smarterthanyou

THANK GOD FOR THAT the last 2 were HORRIBLE but the first one was a work of genius (in my opinion) should be good then!