How Mike Myers Almost Made Shrek Canadian

Picture the adored green ogre Shrek speaking with a Canadian accent rather than his distinctive Scottish one! This may seem odd now, but it nearly occurred. The ground-breaking hit from DreamWorks Animation, ‘Shrek’, has now grown to become one of the most-watched animated movies of the 2000s and inspired a whole franchise. However, the character might have been quite different if Mike Myers hadn’t contributed.

Myers employed his native Canadian accent when he originally started recording the lines for ‘Shrek’. However, when he learned more about the character, he became aware of a gap. Shrek, who was supposed to be a quirky, sour, yet endearing hero, required a more appropriate accent to reflect his working-class upbringing. After giving it some thinking, Myers concluded that a Scottish accent would fit Shrek’s persona and the fairytale setting better because it would give the character’s rough appearance more nuance and realism.

Image Courtesy: People

Myers had already recorded a large portion of the movie with his Canadian accent by this time, but he didn’t think it had the required punch. He thought that by adopting a Scottish accent, Shrek would gain the “oomph” he required. This modification was difficult because it necessitated rerecording almost the whole script, which raised the production’s budget significantly. However, Myers offered to re-record the lines for free since he was so sure that the Scottish accent would enhance the character.

The change was welcomed by the studio, which included executive producer Steven Spielberg. Spielberg even wrote Myers a personal message congratulating him on the choice after hearing the new Scottish voice. A significant component of Shrek’s identity, the Scottish accent enhanced his persona and gave his portrayal of an underdog hero a more genuine feel. Myers’s commitment to honing the voice was crucial to the movie’s success, which solidified Shrek’s status in popular culture and made it a worldwide phenomenon.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Shrek’s Scottish voice added a distinct depth that added to the film’s enduring popularity, even though his Canadian accent could have made him endearing. A Broadway musical, spin-offs, sequels, and the impending ‘Shrek 5’ have all contributed to Shrek’s increasing fame. The character’s voice became iconic.

–Farheen Ali