The time has come to engage in another animated martial arts adventure with Po (Jack Black), the Dragon Warrior of Legend! Dreamworks lit a fuse under its Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer today, giving us a fantastic look at Po’s mission to find a new Dragon Warrior while defeating a formidable shapeshifting villain, the Chameleon (Viola Davis).
Here’s an official description for Kung Fu Panda 4 courtesy of Dreamworks:
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.
The film features the voice talent of returning stars Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master Shifu; James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Po’s adoptive father, Mr. Ping; Academy Award nominee Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father, Li, and Emmy Award nominee Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis. Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.
Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer highlights the urgency of Po’s mission to find his Dragon Warrior replacement (my money is on Zhen) before Chameleon can corrupt the land he’s sworn to protect. After acquiring the Staff of Wisdom, Chameleon uses it to summon Po’s vanquished enemies and steal their awesome martial arts powers. With time running out, Po and Zhen work together to defeat Chameleon and hopefully find Po’s apprentice in the process.
As always, the Kung Fu Panda franchise brings exciting characters, dazzling visuals, and serene aesthetics to the silver screen. Let’s order a bowl of delicious noodles and enjoy the new promo!
Are you excited about Kung Fu Panda 4? Let us know in the comments below.