ABC is decking the swamp with boughs of holly.
The network announced Monday its plans for Shrek the Halls, a half-hour special that's sure to join A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life in the holiday classics canon.
If you dig flatulent Scottish ogres, that is.
Shrek the Halls is slated to air in December 2007 and will feature Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas reprising their beloved film characters.
"Family classics are a cornerstone of our brand, and Shrek the Halls will provide warm memories year after year," ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson said in a statement.
Also commenting on the inclination to bring Shrek, Princess Fiona, Donkey and Puss In Boots to the small screen was DreamWorks Animation SKG cofounder Jeffrey Katzenberg, who helped come up with the idea to add a Yuletide installment to the franchise.
“The time has come to celebrate the joys of the holiday season with Shrek and his family, and see how Christmas would play out in his world," the DreamWorks CEO said. "Shrek the Halls follows a natural storytelling path for us, and we’re so happy to be partnered with ABC in expanding the world of Shrek into the television arena.”
But first that path leads to Shrek the Third, which is expected to hit theaters in May and ideally match the success of the first two Shrek films, which together have grossed nearly $1.4 billion worldwide, per BoxOfficeMojo.com. Next year's Christmas special will pick up where the new film leaves off.
ABC has a pretty expansive holiday library already, also laying claim to the aforementioned Peanuts special, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, the annual Walt Disney Christmas Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
The Disney-owned network inked a deal with DreamWorks that will allow it to air Shrek the Halls for the next 15 holiday seasons.