• Variety, Wednesday, November 8, 2006 12:15 PM

ABC has a deal with DreamWorks Animation to produce a new "Shrek"-themed special. "Shrek the Halls" is set to debut in December 2007, picking up where the story line to next summer's "Shrek the Third" leaves off.

The half-hour special revolves around Christmas at the swamp, as Shrek and company prepare for the holidays. Regular voices--including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy--have all signed on. DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg says the idea came out of a conversation he had with ABC Entertainment chief Steve McPherson.

"Steve and I were together one day, and he mentioned to me that he was trying to find a new Christmas special," Katzenberg says. "They had great success last Christmas with their holiday-themed specials. So I brainstormed with our team, and we came back to him with the idea of "Shrek the Halls."

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