The movie was filmed in 2008 and released in 2012.
After a disastrous US opening, the UK cinema release was canceled. The film was released direct-to-video in the UK and several European countries.
It was shelved for 4 years until 2012, due of the break-up between Dreamworks and Paramount.
The film was then scheduled for a January 2012 release. When Eddie Murphy was announced as the host of the 2012 Oscars (he later stepped down), the release date was pushed to March 23, 2012, then April 20, 2012 before being moves to March 9, 2012.
This is Eddie Murphy's third movie with John Witherspoon. They were also in Boomerang (1992) and Un vampire à Brooklyn (1995).
Alain Chabat: The French businessman. Chabat dubbed Shrek's voice in French, and in this movie he shares screen time with Donkey's original voice actor. Later on, Eddie Murphy holds a doll with the likeness of Austin Powers, who is played by Shrek's English voice, Mike Myers.