TRAILERS

Jack Black is Back as Po in Animation Sequel 'Kung Fu Panda 4' Trailer

by Alex Billington
December 13, 2023
Source: YouTube

"What do I know about being a spiritual leader?" Universal has revealed the first trailer for DreamWorks Animation's next sequel Kung Fu Panda 4, the follow-up to Kung Fu Panda 3 from 2016. Somehow, Po returned. This spring, for the first time in almost a decade, comedy icon Jack Black returns to his role as Po the Panda, the world's most unlikely kung fu master, for a hilarious, butt-kicking brand new chapter in DreamWorks Animation's beloved action-comedy franchise: Kung Fu Panda 4. Po is gearing up to become the spiritual leader of his Valley of Peace, but also needs someone to take his place as Dragon Warrior. As such, he will train a new kung fu practitioner for the spot and will encounter a villain called the Chameleon who conjures villains from the past. The film features the voice talent of returning stars Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master, Shifu; James Hong as Po's adoptive father, Mr. Ping; 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 joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Mike Mitchell's Kung Fu Panda 4, direct from YouTube:

After three death-defying adventures defeating villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to...give it a rest already. 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 (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 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 (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 discovers heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by American comedy filmmaker Mike Mitchell, director of the movies Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Surviving Christmas, Sky High, Shrek Forever After, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Trolls, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, plus work on "The Barbarian and the Troll" series most recently. Co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine, a storyboard artist and director of episodes of "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power" previously. Produced by Rebecca Huntley. It's created and animated by DreamWorks Animation (DWA) based in Burbank, CA. Universal Pictures will debut DWA's Kung Fu Panda 4 in theaters nationwide starting March 8th, 2024 coming soon. Look any good? Who's down for more?

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