It’s been eight years since “Kung Fu Panda 3,” but the fourth installment in the series finally returns in 2024 with the simply titled “Kung Fu Panda 4.” To be fair, “Kung Fu Panda” didn’t really go anywhere. The franchise pivoted to a Netflix series during the pandemic and even featured Jack Black again. But did anyone realize that series ran for three whole seasons? Clearly, the series on streaming ran its course, and Dreamworks Animation was eager to bring it back to the big screen.
Yesterday, the full “Kung Fu Panda 4” voice cast was revealed, with Awkwafina, Viola Davis, and Ke Huy Quan joining previous voice actors of the franchise, including Black, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane, who reprises his role as the villainous Tai Lung.
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Jack Black revealed at Comic-Con that some of the franchise’s new characters, including the Dragon Warrior character Zhen and a new villain called “The Chameleon” (more details on those below). While many thought the film would end after the third installment, DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg said, “Kung Fu Panda actually has six chapters to it, and we’ve mapped that out over the years,” so at least two more films to go.
Here’s the extended synopsis:
After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.
That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.
Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.
So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.
“Kung Fu Panda 4” is directed by Mike Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls,” “Shrek Forever After”), and the movie’s co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine (“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power”). The film is produced by Rebecca Huntley (DreamWorks Animation’s “The Bad Guys”)
“Kung Fu Panda 4” opens in theaters March 8, 2024. Watch the first trailer below; we’ll surely know more details soon.
