Kung Fu Panda is back again, serving up a fourth chapter of its hilarious universe. The last time we saw a Kung Fu Panda movie, the year was 2016 and the whole world was different. This might explain why the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer offers us a surprisingly resonant core despite its fart jokes and overall antics. (It is an animated panda movie, after all.) But this time, Po, voiced once again by Jack Black, is facing something of an identity crisis. It’s time for him to give up the Dragon Warrior and become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. This is presented as an honor, but, of course, shifting from identity to identity is never easy. And though we can’t quite tell yet if Po will reach for his next calling or remain a Dragon Warrior for a while longer, we’re excited to go on this journey with him.
In addition to the full trailer below, Kung Fu Panda 4 also gave us a fun Super Bowl ad that will make Po fans smile.
Kung Fu Panda 4‘s Trailer
Take a look at the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer below.
Joining Jack Black’s Po is Awkwafina as the “crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen, a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable.” Additionally, Viola Davis features in this trailer, adding another devious yet fabulous villain to her repertoire. Davis will voice the “wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon,” who is “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.”
As we see in the trailer, Kung Fu Panda 4‘s Chameleon can transform into anyone she faces. And what is scarier than facing yourself when you’re going through an identity crisis? Very little. But hands down, the best part of this look at the movie is getting to hear Ke Huy Quan give life to Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves. We believe he’s a sloth, but stay tuned for more specific animal details. Three cheers for Ke Huy Quan getting to be in everything.
Kung Fu Panda 4 also features “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.”
When Will Kung Fu Panda 4 Release?
For those interested in catching the action on the big screen, Kung Fu Panda 4 will release on March 8, 2024.
Originally published on December 13, 2023.
