When Shrek the Third hit theaters in 2007, it carried the heavy weight of following up one of the most successful animated sequels in cinematic history. The core ensemble returned, but the canvas expanded dramatically. A flood of fresh faces entered the fairy-tale kingdom, tasked with voicing rebellious teens, cynical royals, and a gaggle of cynical princesses. Stepping into an established cultural phenomenon isn't easy, yet the voice booth brought together pop stars, comedy legends, and television icons to build out the sprawling universe.
Understanding who voiced who reveals how DreamWorks shaped the sequel's comedic tone. While Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas anchored the production, new additions like Justin Timberlake and a slew of Saturday Night Live alumni completely shifted the dynamic. Let's look at the performers who defined the roster, the specific characters they inhabited, and how these casting choices shaped the third installment.
The Returning Heavyweights
The foundation of any franchise sequel depends on its original stars returning without missing a beat. By 2007, the primary voices had become synonymous with their animated counterparts.
Mike Myers returned as Shrek, wrestling with the terrifying prospect of fatherhood and royal duty in Far Far Away. Myers maintained the signature Scottish brogue that defined the ogre, balancing gruff insecurity with domestic panic. Alongside him, Eddie Murphy brought relentless chaotic energy back to Donkey, while Cameron Diaz continued voicing Princess Fiona, who led the resistance of fairy-tale heroines when Prince Charming staged his coup.
Antonio Banderas rounded out the core quartet as Puss in Boots. A memorable body-swap sequence mid-film required Banderas and Murphy to pitch their performances into entirely new registers as Puss and Donkey found their minds trapped in each other's bodies. That vocal agility kept the central trio fresh even as the plot ventured into unfamiliar territory.
New Additions to Far Far Away
The plot hinges on Shrek searching for an alternative heir to the throne of Far Far Away so he can return to his swamp. This search introduced major new players to the ensemble.
Justin Timberlake as Arthur Pendragon
Pop star Justin Timberlake stepped into the booth to voice Artie, an awkward, unpopular high school outcast who happens to be the cousin of Fiona and the rightful heir to the throne. Timberlake played the teenager with a mixture of whiny insecurity and defensive bravado. Artie's character arc takes him from a bullied schoolkid to a reluctant leader who uses diplomacy rather than brute force to stop Prince Charming.
Eric Idle as Merlin
Monty Python veteran Eric Idle brought his signature British absurdism to the role of Merlin, Artie's retired, neurotic magic teacher. Merlin is introduced as a burnt-out mystic living in a desert cave after suffering a nervous breakdown. Idle's delivery turned a standard wizard archetype into a flustered, self-help-obsessed eccentric, particularly during the botched spellcasting scene that accidentally swaps Puss and Donkey's bodies.
The Rebel Princesses and Villainous Crew
Prince Charming assembled an army of fairy-tale villains to overthrow the crown, while Fiona rallied her own cohort of royal women. This setup allowed the casting directors to pull in an impressive roster of comedic talent.
Maya Rudolph joined the cast as Rapunzel, Charming's secret romantic partner who betrays the kingdom from the inside. Rudolph gave the golden-haired princess a haughty, dramatic flair. On the opposing side, the fairy-tale princesses banded together for an action sequence that subverted traditional damsel tropes.
The royal resistance lineup included:
- Snow White, voiced by Amy Poehler with a sharp, commanding edge.
- Cinderella, voiced by Amy Sedaris as a neurotic germaphobe obsessed with cleaning.
- Sleeping Beauty, voiced by Cheri Oteri as a narcoleptic prone to falling asleep mid-sentence.
- Mabel, the Ugly Stepsister, voiced by talk show host Regis Philbin.
- Doris, the other Ugly Stepsister, voiced by broadcast legend Larry King.
Meanwhile, the villain side featured Ian McShane lending his deep, gravelly voice to Captain Hook, serving as one of Charming's primary henchmen in the tavern before the takeover.
Behind the Mic: Production Realities
Voice acting in major animated films rarely happens in a shared room. Most of the performers recorded their lines solo over several years, relying on dialogue directors to match the conversational timing. For Justin Timberlake and the SNL alumni, matching the frantic comedic cadence established by Myers and Murphy required precise vocal direction.
The production also relied heavily on background voice talent from crew members and recurring utility players. Cody Cameron juggled multiple roles, including Pinocchio and the Three Pigs, while Conrad Vernon voiced the Gingerbread Man alongside newer duties as Rumpelstiltskin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did any original cast members not return for Shrek the Third?
Most of the principal cast returned. However, some characters from previous films, such as Lord Farquaad (voiced by John Lithgow in the first movie), only appeared via archive footage or brief cameo ghosts because their characters had already met their demises.
Who voiced the baby ogres at the end of the movie?
The newborn ogre babies—Farkel, Fergus, and Felicia—were voiced by a mix of child actors and infant vocal contributors, including Dante James Hauser and Jordan Alexander Hauser.
Was Justin Timberlake the first choice for Artie?
DreamWorks cast Timberlake during the height of his music career transition into film acting. The creative team wanted a voice that could instantly communicate awkward adolescent angst combined with hidden charm, landing on Timberlake to anchor the high school sequences.
How did the body-swap affect the voice recording process?
Because Puss and Donkey switch bodies, Antonio Banderas had to record lines acting like Donkey, while Eddie Murphy had to capture Puss's suave mannerisms. Both actors studied each other's physical performances and vocal habits to make the comedic swap convincing on screen.
