These days it’s hard to find a movie that isn’t a remake of a classic or based on a book. Many people believe the book is almost always better than the movie, but that’s up for debate. Did you know that the immensely popular Shrek movie franchise was based on a children’s book? “Shrek!” is a picture book by William Steig written and illustrated in 1990.
It’s about a young ogre who finds the female ogre of his dreams after leaving home to explore the world. (Sounds like the movie plot didn’t stray too far from the book.) Steven Spielberg initially bought the rights to the book, but it was then sold to DreamWorks in 1995.
Chris Farley was originally cast as the voice of Shrek, but he passed away before he could begin work; the role was recast and given to Mike Myers. The Shrek franchise is an enormous success. There are sequels, musical productions, and spinoffs all based on the original story. The first Shrek movie even won an Academy Award for best Animated Feature. It’s a safe bet that Mr. Steig never imagined that his cranky ogre would become the sensation that he is today.