Before he was a meme icon or a karaoke king, Shrek was a strange little picture book—and his path to the big screen was anything but ordinary. In this episode, we dive deep into the origins of everyone’s favorite ogre, from the obscure 1990 children’s book by William Steig to the chaotic casting changes (including the surprising actor originally slated to voice Shrek). We explore the behind-the-scenes hiccups, the legacy of Chris Farley’s unfinished performance, and how a troubled production gave birth to a fairytale classic that flipped the genre on its head. Grab your torches and pitchforks—we’re going to the swamp.