Po lives to fight (and eat) again. Universal and Dreamworks Animation has announced that Kung Fu Panda 4 is on the way. The studio has also set a March 8, 2024 theatrical release for the film.
No directors have been set for Kung Fu Panda 4, but it’s expected that the fourth installment will “follow the further adventures of wide-eyed Po in ancient China, whose love of kung fu is matched only by an insatiable appetite.” Featuring the voice of Jack Black, the franchise follows Po, a giant panda who is chosen as the prophesied Dragon Warrior and become a master of kung fu. After the release of the first film in 2008, the Kung Fu Panda franchise spawned two big-screen sequels, a handful of short films, and three TV series.
The most recent Kung Fu Panda TV series, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, launched on Netflix last month. “When a mysterious pair of weasels set their sights on a collection of four powerful weapons, Po must leave his home to embark on a globe-trotting quest for redemption and justice that finds him partnered up with a no-nonsense English knight named Wandering Blade,” reads the official synopsis. “Together, these two mismatched warriors set out on an epic adventure to find the magical weapons first and save the world from destruction — and they may even learn a thing or two from each other along the way.” Jack Black reprises his role of Po for the series alongside Rita Ora as Wandering Blade and the great James Hong as Mr. Ping.
James Hong spoke with THR about why voicing the noodle shop and Po’s adoptive father is so important to him. “I’ve never done the same character for 15 years,” Hong said. “In that respect, growing up with Mr. Ping and Kung Fu Panda has opened my eyes. In the beginning, we didn’t know where this thing was going. We just did our bit, right? We did our best, and then we just kind of put it aside. But who would dream that in 15 years, here’s Jack and I coming back? We have grown up ourselves.” Are you looking forward to Kung Fu Panda 4?