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

Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

March 7, 2024 - 4:50 PM IST

For the first time in almost a decade, comedy icon Jack Black returns to his role as Po, the world’s most unlikely kung fu master, with a hilarious, butt-kicking new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved action-comedy franchise: Kung Fu Panda 4 releasing pan India on March 15.

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

The Kung Fu Panda franchise, which has spanned almost 16 years and has amassed a staggering nearly $2 billion in global box-office success, continues to captivate audiences worldwide. At its core, the saga revolves around the endearing panda, Po (Jack Black), who embodies and imparts profound lessons of self-discovery, overcoming fear and the power of teamwork. As the franchise launches into a new era with Kung Fu Panda 4, the narrative takes a compelling turn, guiding Po on an internal journey of growth and change. Joining the ensemble as new characters Oscar winner Viola Davis as The Chameleon who’s a wicked, powerful sorceress and Golden Globe winner Awkwafina as Zhen a crafty, quick-witted thief.

In the world of Kung Fu Panda, comedy icon Jack Black has been the driving force, the voice and the comedic genius shaping the beloved character, Po, for a remarkable 16 years. From the very inception of Po, Black’s signature humour and irreverent charm became the cornerstone of the iconic panda’s personality. “Po is Jack Black,” director Mike Mitchell says. “They are very similar—both very funny and action-packed. Jack has this childlike quality, and he’s kind of a fanboy at heart. That’s exactly what Po is. So, when we made the first Kung Fu Panda, we really tried to design it around Jack’s personality, and it’s only gotten more solid as these films grow.”

Beyond the laughs and the kung fu, Black injects an emotional depth into his performance of Po. “It’s no secret that Jack is one of the funniest actors of all time,” Mitchell says. “But he’s so much more than that. He’s a terrific actor and he really finds the emotional core of each scene. That’s something you wouldn’t expect in an animated family film, but he’s really good at finding that emotional depth.”

The film features the voice talent of returning stars Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman as kung fu master, Shifu; James Hong 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 joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

A DreamWorks Animation, Kung Fu Panda 4 directed by Mike Mitchell, and co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine, is distributed by Universal Pictures (Warner Bros. Discovery) and will be released in India on March 15 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.