Summary
Shrekis re-imagined as a dark fantasy adventure in a new batch of AI-generated images. Released in 2001,Shrekis directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, with Mike Myers voicing the titular ogre. The film was a hit critically and commercially, and Myers has now reprised the role for three sequels, withShrek 5now confirmedto be on the way. Though its Myers and fellow cast members Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz who are major reasons behind the films' success, the animated world of the story is also a big draw.
AI-generated images shared byu/Furciferuson Reddit now totally re-imagine the world ofShrekand the ogre himself, putting a dark spin on the franchise. Check out the image below:
The images put Shrek in a world reminiscent of theDark Soulsvideo game series, giving him updated armor and weapons. One of the images also featuers a new take on Dragon, who eventually becomes Donkey’s lover in the films.
Would A Dark Fantasy Version Of Shrek Work?
Why It Will Never Happen
Shrekis, obviously, a franchise aimed at audiences of almost all ages. All four films and thePuss in Bootsspinoffs feature family-friendly humor and action. This PG tone is undoubtedly part of why the franchise has become so successful and popular, as there’s no real age limiter in place regarding who can go to theaters to watch and enjoy the movies.Making a darker and more adult version ofShrekwith anything above a PG rating would be immediately cutting down on the potential audience, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense from a commercial perspective.
The latest installment in the largerShrekfranchise is2022’sPuss in Boots: The Last Wish, which earned positive reviews and was a box offices success.
Every Shrek Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
The Shrek movies range from very good to very very bad. Which animated film is an All Star, and which one is still Holding Out For A Hero?
From a more creative or storytelling perspective, however, aDark Souls-esqueShrekmovie is more interesting. The world ofShrekpokes fun at and subverts elements of traditional fairy tales, and doing this in a darkly fantastical setting could prove interesting. Shrek begins the first film as a somewhat tragic and lonely character, andleaning more heavily into his darkness and what it means to be an ogre rejected by society could make for an interesting character study.
Even though a dark fantasy story with theShrekcast of characterswould be an interesting change of pace for the franchise, it’s very unlikely to ever happen. Right now,Shrek 5and aDonkeyspinoff movieare the only two franchise projects on the horizon, but even if more films are announced, they are essentially guaranteed to maintain a family-friendly tone. TheShrekAI art above does, however, provide an interesting glimpse at a very different version of the iconic character.
Source:u/Furciferus/ Reddit
Shrek
The Shrek franchise is a beloved animated series that began in 2001, centering around an ogre named Shrek who lives in a swamp and embarks on various adventures with a cast of quirky and memorable characters. The franchise is known for its humor, parodies of fairy tales, and heartwarming themes about friendship, love, and self-acceptance. The success of the first film led to multiple sequels, spin-offs, and television specials, making Shrek a pop culture icon.
