John Lithgow is wanting again on his position in “Shrek”, the place he famously voiced the villainous Lord Farquaad within the 2001 animated hit. Regardless of the character’s demise within the first movie, the actor has expressed real enthusiasm about returning to the position.
The “Shrek” franchise has grown into one in every of DreamWorks’ most profitable tasks, increasing to a number of sequels and spin-offs that attracted a world fanbase. Pleasure is constructing for the fifth installment, which can carry its iconic characters again to the large display screen.
John Lithgow was on “The Tonight Show” to speak about his newest tasks, and the dialog touched on one in every of his most beloved roles, Lord Farquaad in “Shrek.” Jimmy Fallon talked about that the primary film simply celebrated its twenty fifth anniversary, to which Lithgow stated its recognition nonetheless endures.
“Effectively, sadly, I by no means obtained any sequels as a result of I used to be eaten by a dragon within the very first one,” Lithgow stated. The tyrannical, short-statured Lord Farquaad, certainly, met his demise on “Shrek” in the midst of his supposed marriage ceremony to Princess Fiona, when the dragon swallows him complete and spits out his crown.
“All of the others went on and made thousands and thousands only for spending 5 minutes,” Lithgow stated. Fallon advised that Lord Farquaad might return with a prequel that reveals how he turned a lord, to which Lithgow replied, “I’m out there.”
The Actor Recalled The Gingerbread Scene
Lord Farquaad solely had lower than 10 minutes of screentime on “Shrek,” however regardless of that, he stays one of the crucial beloved villains. Lithgow explicitly remembers voicing the scene the place Lord Farquaad tortures Gingerbread Man.
In keeping with Lithgow, he did the scene with author Conrad Vernon, who was serving to him with cues and quickly voiced the Gingerbread Man. “They went and seemed and seemed and seemed for the best Gingerbread Man, and so they ended up hiring him. And he turned the Gingerbread Man for like, 5 ‘Shrek’ films! Me? Eaten by that goddamn dragon,” Lithgow stated in mock exasperation.
Not solely did Vernon return as Gingerbread Man in all of the “Shrek” movies, however he additionally co-directed “Shrek 2” and can be co-directing the fifth installment within the franchise.
John Lithgow Expressed Curiosity In Previous Interviews
This isn’t the primary time the 80-year-old, award-winning actor has stated that he needed to revisit Lord Farquaad. In 2024, Lithgow stated he would say “sure in a minute” if he had been requested to return to the franchise. Nevertheless, that was fairly tough since his character was lifeless. “It seems it’s unimaginable to get better from being eaten by a dragon,” he added.
Within the musical brief movie “Shrek within the Swamp Karaoke Dance Occasion,” Lord Farquaad was briefly seen singing the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” whereas within the dragon’s abdomen. Lithgow returned to voice Lord Farquaad’s ghost in “Shrek 4-D,” an attraction that debuted at Common Studios in 2003, which was later launched on TV, streaming, and residential video.
The Actor Had Misconceptions About ‘Shrek’
In 2025, Lithgow revisited a few of his most iconic roles for Variety, together with Lord Farquaad. The actor admitted that whereas he thought the venture seemed “enjoyable” to do, he didn’t assume it was a “massive deal.”
“I believed it was like a Saturday morning cartoon or one thing. Not an enormous deal,” Lithgow stated. He additionally revealed that it took 4 years earlier than “Shrek” was launched, saying, “They might carry me again in as soon as each eight months or so to file some new materials. And it was like, ‘Oh, I gotta do that ‘Shrek’ factor once more? What is that this?’”
“Shrek” formally began manufacturing in late 1995 and was launched in 2001, grossing greater than $484 million worldwide on a price range of $60 million.
The ‘Shrek 5’ Launch Was Delayed Twice
In July 2024, DreamWorks formally introduced “Shrek 5,” saying a launch date of July 2026. Nevertheless, the date was pushed again to December 2026, after which once more to June 2027. It isn’t identified what induced the setbacks.
The final film within the franchise, “Shrek Eternally After,” was launched in 2010 and centered on Shrek, who was plunged right into a dystopian alternate actuality after signing a contract with Rumpelstiltskin.
“Shrek 5” will return with its ensemble forged, together with Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Fiona), and Eddie Murphy (Donkey), in addition to newcomers Zendaya, Marcello Hernandez, and Skyler Gisondo, who can be voicing Shrek and Fiona’s triplets, Felicia, Fergus, and Farkle.
