Awkwafina lauds Kung Fu Panda 4 co-star Jack Black: “I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t even do my lines right”

Kung Fu Panda 4 is slated to release worldwide on March 15, 2024.

March 14, 2024 - 3:41 PM IST

Awkwafina, the award-winning actress and comedian, is joining the cast of the highly anticipated Kung Fu Panda 4. In a recent interview, Awkwafina dives deep into her character, Zhen, the story's themes, and the experience of working alongside Hollywood legends. Read the excerpts:

Awkwafina lauds Kung Fu Panda 4 co-star Jack Black: “I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t even do my lines right”

How would you describe Zhen, your character in Kung Fu Panda 4?

I would describe Zhen as a fox. She’s a criminal that has spent her life pickpocketing, and she has a wry sense of humor—which I enjoy about her. She has some secrets, as well, that I was surprised to read.

How does she come into Po’s life?

Zhen and Po meet accidentally while she is in the process of stealing. Po wants to bring justice to that, but Zhen is tricky—as I assume foxes would be, right? Then this awesome animated sequence happens where they fight, but in the end, they become friends, which is nice.

What did you think of the script when you read it?

I loved it! I mean, I love all these movies, so it was just an honour to read something you are also a fan of and find out what happens. I enjoyed discovering Zhen because she’s a very complex character who has her problems and her baggage. It’s always a pleasure to play a multidimensional character.

Did you enjoy working on the character with directors Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine?

Yes, it was easy to find the character and work with Mike and Stephanie because they created an extremely free and fun environment to play around. They let you improv and try things out, so it feels like a collaborative process. I think that’s the best environment, especially to work on animated movies.

Why do you believe audiences all over the world have fallen in love with these movies?

I believe people have fallen in love with Kung Fu Panda movies, first of all, because of Jack Black—his Po is probably one of my favourite characters in film history. I also think that the humour and where the stories go in this franchise are surprising. They all have a unique brand of humour and interesting characters. I remember watching Kung Fu Panda for the first time and laughing so hard. It is still one of my favourite movies.

What is it about Jack Black that makes him so compelling as Po?

I think Jack as Po is especially amazing because his performance is liberating and free, but it also has a lot of heart and humility. I think he’s an incredible actor and Po, specifically, is a character that we can all love and relate to in one way or another.

How would you describe the story of Kung Fu Panda 4?

The story of Kung Fu Panda 4 is about changing and growing into different eras of your life. We have this amazing villain that can mirror anything, which is also a larger metaphor for who our enemies could sometimes be.

Viola Davis brings life to that terrifying villain in a unique way.

Yes, Viola does a great job creating this very scary character. The fact that The Chameleon can change into anything gives her pretty much the ultimate advantage—she’s a pretty tricky villain. I love what they did with the new characters and the animation in general.

How was it to meet with the animators?

It was so fun because I think we surprised them, which I was kind of nervous about. Then we sat with them and watched these amazing clips. I’m very appreciative of all their work. It’s very hard work and I just love the world that they created.

The movie has great action pieces.

I think the Kung Fu Panda films have always raised the bar on the action sequences, and this movie is action-packed. The fight scenes are so specifically detailed and funny. There’s physical humour and so much more cool stuff in Kung Fu Panda 4.

And the cast is just unbelievable.

Yeah, and I’m such a fan of them all. It’s amazing to be a part of a cast with names like Jack Black, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ke Huy Quan.

So, what does it mean for you to join the Kung Fu Panda franchise then?

Honestly, it’s such an honour to join this franchise. And I’m also a fan of the other franchises that DreamWorks has, so it’s just really cool to be a part of this family.

Speaking of families, Kung Fu Panda 4 is a film that people of all ages can enjoy in the theatre, right?

Yes, it’s an absolute must-see in the theatre with friends and family. It’s a big film with detailed fight scenes that are incredible. It’s super funny, which is enhanced by the communal experience of watching in a movie theatre with everyone.

What are some of the themes you can take away from the story?

I think some of the biggest themes people will take away from are loyalty, friendship and change.

How would you describe the dynamic between Zhen and Po?

Well, I don’t think Po’s ever really had a partner before, so it was great to play Zhen and see their friendship start budding because it’s an unlikely one. Zhen kind of roasts Po, and it’s fun to see how he falls for it. I like the way they bicker and how their partnership and friendship develop.

And how was it to record those moments in the booth with Jack Black?

It is so fun to be in the booth with Jack! I just hoped they cut my feed at times because I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t even do my lines right. He is such a brilliant performer and so good at playing Po. It comes naturally to him and to see that in person was very cool.

What was the experience like for you to play Zhen?

Playing Zhen was really fun and I did some stuff that I had never done before, as the character is so complex. It’s nice when you are playing characters in these kinds of movies that allow you to be funny and goofy. That’s always a pleasure.

We all know that Po loves dumplings. Do you prefer them boiled, steamed, or pan-fried?

If I’m feeling frisky, I’ll have them pan fried, but I feel boiled or steamed is probably how my ancestors would want me to have them. As a Chinese American, I feel honoured to be in this movie precisely because the Kung Fu Panda franchise has always honoured true things about the culture, it adds to the Asian American landscape of films.

Also Read: Kung Fu Panda 4: “Jack Black has this childlike quality and he’s kind of a fanboy at heart. That’s exactly what Po is,” says director Mike Mitchell