Comedian Chris Rock said DreamWorks approached him at least twice [1] to replace Eddie Murphy as the voice of Donkey in the Shrek franchise.
This revelation provides a rare glimpse into the casting instabilities of one of the most successful animated series in cinema history. The voice of Donkey is a central pillar of the franchise, and a change in casting would have fundamentally altered the comedic chemistry of the films.
Rock shared these details during a live taping of the "Fly on the Wall" podcast at the Netflix Is a Joke Fest in Los Angeles [2]. Rock said the studio sought a replacement because of delays regarding Murphy's recording schedule [2]. The studio viewed Rock as a viable alternative to ensure the production stayed on track.
Despite the studio's interest, the deal never materialized. Rock said the replacement did not happen because Murphy eventually recorded his lines [1]. This allowed Murphy to maintain his role in the million-dollar franchise [3].
Rock, who was 61 at the time of the interview [4], discussed the near-miss as part of his broader career reflections. The Shrek series remains a cornerstone of DreamWorks animation, known for its subversive take on fairy tales, and its high-profile voice cast. The tension between production deadlines and talent availability is a common struggle in high-budget animation, where a single voice actor's absence can stall the entire pipeline.
While Rock did not express regret over the missed opportunity, the anecdote highlights the precarious nature of casting in major studio productions. The studio's willingness to pivot to another A-list comedian underscores the pressure to meet release dates for global properties.
“DreamWorks approached him at least twice to replace Eddie Murphy”
This account illustrates the logistical volatility of big-budget animation, where the reliance on celebrity voices can create production bottlenecks. It reveals that DreamWorks was prepared to make a significant creative pivot to protect its timeline, though the eventual retention of Eddie Murphy preserved the continuity that helped define the franchise's identity.
