Summary
- Kung Fu Panda 4 is set to release on March 29, 2023, with Po preparing to become the spiritual guide and facing a new sorceress named Chameleon who rounds up former villains.
- The cast includes Jack Black as Po, Awkwafina as Zhen, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, Lucy Liu as Viper, and David Cross as Crane.
- Chameleon, the primary villain, has shapeshifting skills and the ability to summon past villains, making her a formidable threat to Po and the Furious Five. The actor playing Chameleon is yet to be revealed.
After eight long years since Kung Fu Panda 3 was released, Kung Fu Panda 4 is finally slated for a theatrical release on March 29, 2023. The latest entry in the popular animated franchise finds the lovable panda bear Po preparing to become the spiritual guide for The Valley of Peace. As Po sets out to find a suitable replacement to take the mantle of Dragon Warrior, a new sorceress named Chameleon will put Po to the test by rounding up former villains in the franchise.
With Netflix's spinoff series Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight completing its three-season run in September 2023, it's time to discover which characters are poised to appear inKung Fu Panda 4 and single out the superb actors who will bring the animated characters to life. If nothing else, the cast of characters indicates a rousing reunion of some of the most iconic mammals and reptiles featured in the franchise thus far.
Kung Fu Panda 4
- Release Date
- March 8, 2024
- Director
- Mike Mitchell, Stephanie Stine
- Cast
- Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, Awkwafina, Lucy Liu, David Cross
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Writers
- Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
10 Jack Black is Poe
In a role tailor-made for his comedic sensibilities, Jack Black returns as Po, the adorable panda bear in the upcoming sequel. Po is a martial arts enthusiast who is the adopted son of Mr. Ping and a student of Master Shifu. When Po isn't tending to his insatiable appetite, he bravely protects the Valley of Peace from dangerous threats. Despite his cuddly demeanor, Po's biggest cross to bear is overcoming his self-doubts and making his father proud.
Black is a comedic and dramatic dynamo who appeared in several '90s movies before scoring his big breakout in High Fidelity. Black's best work includes performances in Richard Linklater's School of Rock and Bernie, Peter Jackson's King Kong, Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder, and the Jumanji franchise. Aside from Kung Fu Panda 4, Black can be seen next in Eli Roth's upcoming video game adaptation of Borderlands.
9 Awkwafina is Zhen
Awkwafina voices Zhen, a new character in the Kung Fu Panda universe. Zhen is a cunning fox and skilled thief who is trained by Po in Kung Fu Panda 4 to possibly become the next Dragon Warrior. According to Black at CinemaCon 2023, Zen has "plenty of promising abilities, but doesn't quite like the idea of Po training them" (via Kung Fu Panda Fandom). As such, fans can expect hilarious bickering back and forth between the master and student as the two venture into the city.
Awkwafina has risen to the top of Hollywood's A-list in recent years following her breakout TV show, Awkwafina is Nora From Queens. She's since starred in everything from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Crazy Rich Asians to The Farewell and The Little Mermaid. A talented voice actor to boot, Awkwafina's performance as Sisu in Raya and the Last Dragon is sure to make an excellent double feature with Kung Fu Panda 4.
8 Jackie Chan is Monkey
The inimitable Jackie Chan voices Monkey in the movie, reprising his role from the three previous franchise entries. Monkey is a member of the Furious Five, a group of master martial artists who trained under Shifu at Jade Palace and have their own unique kung fu style. As a master of the Monkey technique, Monkey is one of the most well-respected fighters in China. While reluctant to accept Po as the Dragon Warrior at first, Monkey comes to accept the huggable panda as an equal.
Chan is a legendary actor known for performing injurious, death-defying stuntwork. With over 140 credits in his unparalleled career, Chan's most notable Chinese movies include Drunken Master, Police Story, Super Cop, and more. As an international superstar, Chan's crossover work includes everything from Rumble in the Bronx and the Rush Hour franchise to Shanghai Noon and The Foreigner.
7 Angelina Jolie is Tigress
A mainstay in the franchise, Angelina Jolie plays Tigress once more in Kung Fu Panda 4. Tigress is a member of the Furious Five and is proficient in the Tiger style of kung fu fighting. Tigress grew up in an orphanage before being taken in and trained by Master Shifu at the Jade Palace. While Tigress was the most skeptical of Po achieving the title of Dragon Warrior, she evolved her stance and now fights beside him as a trusted ally.
One of the most famous movie stars alive, Jolie gained traction in Hollywood after starring in the cult-classic Hackers in 1995. Four years later, Jolie earned an Oscar Award for her brilliant turn in the '90s movie, Girl, Interrupted. While best known for portraying larger-than-life characters like Maleficent and Lara Croft, Jolie's action-packed physicality in movies like Wanted and Mr. & Mrs. Smith proves why she's in a stratosphere of her own.
6 Seth Rogen is Mantis
Seth Rogen returns to the franchise as Mantis, another member of the Furious Five. A master of the Mantis style of kung fu, the shapeshifting insect had to overcome his hyperactive energy as a child and learn to embrace patience. Whereas Tigress and Monkey were unsure of Po's potential to become the Dragon Warrior, Mantis supported Po's role in the Valley of Peace and befriended sooner than the others.
Rogen is a famous comedic and dramatic actor who famously got his start in Judd Apatow's Freaks and Geeks. Although he's most famous for starring in such hit comedies as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, and Pineapple Express, Rogen has made deliberate strides to improve his dramatic chops by starring in everything from Jobs to The Fabelmans. Rogen and Jack Black also recently voiced Donkey Kong and Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
5 Dustin Hoffman is Master Shifu
Dustin Hoffman reprises his role as Master Shifu in Kung Fu Panda 4. As alluded to, Master Shifu is the martial arts instructor at Jade Palace who is responsible for teaching Po and the Furious Five all they know about kung fu. After his prized pupil Tai Lung betrayed him en route to becoming the Dragon Warrior, Shifu detested the idea of Po replacing him. Over time, Master Shifu embraces Po's flaws and becomes his mentor.
Hoffman is a two-time Oscar-winning Hollywood legend who earned such awards for his excellent performances in Kramer vs. Kramer and Rain Man, respectively. Hoffman also earned Academy Award nods for such all-time great movies as Mike Nichols' The Graduate, John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy, Sydney Pollack's Tootsie, and Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog. Beyond Kung Fu Panda 4, Hoffman is set to star next in Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis.
4 Lucy Liu is Viper
Lucy Liu voices Viper in the animated sequel. Viper is also a member of the Furious Five who trained under Master Shifu at Jade Palace. Thanks to her training and her background as the daughter of the Great Viper Master and a skilled ribbon dancer, Viper is highly adept at the Viper style of kung fu combat. Along with Mantis, Viper is the friendliest member of the five, who instantly welcomes Po into the mix.
Liu is a famous actor, director, and producer who has appeared in some of the most beloved movies and TV shows on record. After earning a Primetime Emmy nod for her work on Ally McBeal, Liu notably went on to star in Rob Marshall's Oscar-winning musical Chicago, Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, the Charlie's Angels franchise, and most recently, Shazam 2. However, many fans will recognize Liu as Joan Watson from the long-running mystery series, Elementary.
3 David Cross is Crane
David Cross reprises his role as Crane in Kung Fu Panda 4. Crane is the final member of The Furious Five who learned how to defeat enemies under Shifu's tutelage by using the Crane style of kung fu. Crane started his journey as a custodian at the Le Da Kung Fu Academy, slowly overcoming his lack of confidence to become a fierce warrior at Jade Palace. While slow to accept Po as one of his own, Crane now functions as one of the panda's closest allies.
Cross is a stand-up comedian and talented actor who notably launched his career alongside Bob Odenkirk in HBO's sketch comedy series, Mr. Show. Although most fans will recognize Cross for playing Tobias Funke in the hit sitcom, Arrested Development, his previous voice work includes Megamind, Curious George, Archer, and perhaps the funniest of all, Sorry to Bother You.
2 TBD is Chameleon
Although no actor has yet been confirmed, the primary villain in Kung Fu Panda 4 will be known as Chameleon. According to Kung Fu Panda Fandom, Chameleon is described as a female sorceress who possesses shapeshifting skills and the ability to summon living beings from the past. Chameleon will presumably use her powers to bring back former villains in the Kung Fu Panda franchise that Po and the Furious Five have faced previously, including Master Shifu's star student Tai Lung.
According to Jack Black during a panel interview at CinemaCon 2023, Chameleon is "totally scary and totally unfair," suggesting that the new antagonist will use dirty tactics to defeat Po and the Furious Five. While it's unfortunate that the actor playing Chameleon has yet to be revealed, the character will mark the first female villain in the franchise to date. Stay tuned to find out who plays Chameleon before the movie comes out in March 2024.
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