By sagnika sinha
Were you missing the cute Kung Fu Panda, the perfect mix of an action hero and an awkward clumsy Panda? All you need to do is be a little patient till March 2024. The gem of a movie series by DreamWorks Animation is bringing in Kung Fu Panda 4 soon!
The Kung Fu Panda Franchise is one of the most popular animated martial arts series distributed by Paramount Pictures and produced by DreamWorks Animation. Due to its huge popularity and demand, there is no doubt that Dreamworks is revisiting the theme with another film!
It was announced in August 2022 that Kung Fu Panda 4 was being produced and will be released on 8 March 2023! It is a treasured property of Dreamwork, which, when evaluated, shows the competitive landscape of the movie world. Hence, it is used to acquire a successful run!
Secrets Unveiled: What To Expect In Kung Fu Panda 4?
The computer-animated martial arts comedy movie is one of the most successful films produced by Dreamworks, creating a whole new on-screen universe. There are several video games based on the franchise and television spin-offs.
The cute, clumsy Panda franchise is ranked as the 10th biggest animated movie franchise based on the earnings at the box office. The franchise has profited greatly at the global box office, with a total gross income of $1.8 billion from the three previous movies.
Being one of the biggest animated movies, Kung Fu Panda has a huge following, so it helps the people involved to experience the full-fledged fun and power of the protagonist in the fourth film. There is a little concern regarding the ongoing strike of actors and writers in Hollywood!
Yet Chris Aronson, the president of Domestic Distribution of Fox, informed that setting the release date in March 2024 lets the film breathe! It also has cope-up time, especially if the film’s production takes longer.
What Is Kung Fu Panda 4 All About?
Kung Fu Panda 4 is all about some more animated Bruce Lee-like Kung Fu shenanigans; however, a lot is under wraps! If we are to follow the past stories of the franchise, there is a lot left for Po, the film’s main protagonist, to learn.
It was in part 2 that Po was unable to accept his history, impacting his reality severely. He failed to find his inner peace, which affected his ability to acquire further knowledge and use of Chi. In Kung Fu Panda 3, Po finally grows as an individual.
He can progress more and finally be able to use Chi and become a Kung Fu master. Based on the prior storyline, I am sure Kung Fu Panda 4 will focus on his progress into becoming a Dragon Warrior! Most of the comments available about the story are from Jack Black, who portrays the role of Po.
According to the actor, the movie’s protagonist has developed quite a lot as he trains other dragon warriors. There is a new villain in the film known as The Chameleon who can bring back Po’s past opponents!
When Are We Watching The Movie?
The Kung Fu Panda 4 release date is in 2024! There are two trailers, both equally interesting and exciting! It only partially exposes the storyline but is quite inclusive regarding the characters.
The trajectory that the film will follow will be quite interesting as it will contribute to your understanding of the characters and how viral marketing of the franchise further increases excitement! It is a viable strategy to keep the storyline open and give hints.
The film’s entertainment landscape has changed a lot over the years, especially from how it was represented in 2015. In this film, the battle will become more difficult and emotionally toiling for Po, especially because he realizes he cannot always stay the Kung Fu Master.
Who Are We Watching In The Movie?
The film is heavily kept under wraps, so very little information is public; however, we have an idea regarding which celebrities give voice to the different characters. It has been heard that Awkwafina, the actor from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings fame, is in the film.
We have not received any news regarding the character or role she performs in the film. However, confirmation has yet to be obtained either from the representatives of the actor or the movie producers. A list of characters that were in the previous films and are cast of Kung Fu Panda 4 here as:
Po
Po, the protagonist of the movie, is voiced by Jack Black. The character development has been huge. Po has come a long way from an awkward, clumsy, cute panda to the Dragon Warrior! In this movie, he is trying to come to terms with his legacy and how to protect everyone while going through a crisis himself!
Master Shifu
Master Shifu, the Dragon Master teacher, was shown to be retiring in the third film as the character was ready to retire. In this film, he must portray the role of the student to Po, from whom he will be learning how the power of Chi needs to be used.
Dustin Hoffman portrays the role of Master Shifu, who turns to Po to learn how to contact the spirit realm. The relationship between teacher and pupil is unique and special.
Tigress
The Furious Five, who trained under Master Shifu, are all powerful and can be considered an elite gang. The pseudo-leader of this gang is Tigress, the character voiced by Angelina Jolie. The essence of Tigress was at one point in direct competition with Po, but she lost!
Over the films, it has been shown that she has come to accept him as a member of their team. She always supports him in any venture of fighting evil. The elite group is dealing with anything that threatens the valley’s peace!
Mantis
The witty Mantis is another member of the team! The Canadian actor and comedian Seth Rogen voiced this character, who was the first to embrace the Kung Fu Panda. He embraced the round panda and now fights as an ally alongside the Dragon Warrior in the dojo.
Monkey
The monkey’s role is played by Jackie Chan, one of the patron saints of the martial arts movie genre. He is also an elite team member who serves alongside the Dragon Warrior! He keeps the team’s enthusiasm up with his playful attitude and comic humor.
Viper
Another member of the Furious Five, Viper, is the snake who, with her kung fu style, helps the Dragon warrior. It is Lucy Liu who portrays the character and brings life to it. She is one of the most openly heated characters who liked Po early on in the franchise.
Over the years, Viper has become a comrade and a close friend of the Dragon Warrior, fighting alongside him against all evils.
Crane
David Cross gives his voice to Crane, another character of the elite team led by the Dragon Warrior. He is an agile warrior who throws powerful kicks and punches along with the power of his wings.
Being a member of the Furious Five cohorts, Crane has a unique fighting style that is always helpful for the Dragon master.
What Can We Expect From The Movie?
One of the biggest surprises, the film’s villain, has not been disclosed yet! It was at CinemaCon 2022 that Jack Black informed that the Chameleon was “totally scary and unfair” and had the upper hand on the Furious Five. In the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer, there is a hint but nothing concrete.
She is a powerful sorceress who has the power to bring back previous villains of the franchise! It also hints at the coming back of other characters such as General Kai, portrayed by JK Simmons, Lord Shen, voiced by Gary Oldman, and Tai Lung, illustrated by Ian McShane.
This ensures that Po will be fighting the Chameleon and other baddies from his past. In the film, Po will be seen venturing out of the Valley of Peace. Further, he will be visiting the big city, which will be a new journey for him, especially not since he was young.
There will also be instances where Po will face his past fears and challenges! He will learn something from his mistakes and experience more growth. He has also continued sharing his knowledge and experiences with the next line of warriors.
Is Kung Fu Panda Saying Goodbye?
One of the major questions that the franchise raises with this film is the mortality of Po! He will be struggling with his concept of mortality, and when it dawns on him that he will not be a dragon master forever.
It is a journey that he takes to find his replacement as the dragon master, embarking on a path that is filled with challenges and unprecedented evil. He also realizes that the succession process is quite messy and grapples with the reality of it all!
Even though it has not been confirmed that Kung Fu Panda 4 will be the final movie in the franchise, there is a high chance that it might be! It has a sense of finality, especially with Po embarking on a new path to find his replacement.
The co-director of Kung Fu Panda 3, Alexandro Carloni, informed Collider that it does not feel right to keep an open ending to a film in a franchise. However, they have yet to come up with the final sendoff aspect.
The focus is, therefore, to have a finality to the franchise; however, there must be some open door to the film. It is about keeping an aspect of the story that might be entertained in the future, especially if the idea presents itself.
Why Did The Franchise Become So Popular?
The most important reason Kung Fu Panda became so popular was the franchise’s marketing! The conceptualization, the merchandise, and the video games of the film made it possible for the viewers to have more exposure to the characters.
The viral marketing and the movie promotion of the films have made it possible for the film to be a well-known movie worldwide. The universe has expanded over the years, and Dreamwork has contributed much to making the movie popular!
The character of Kung Fu Panda, Po, has been on a journey to discover himself and his insight, which is relatable to many people. Even the side characters have been relatable and helpful concerning the way their backstory is explored.
The treatment of the characters has been prominent, especially with the development of the characters and the future. Let’s wait for the fourth part to come so that we realize whether it is goodbye for Po.
What Are We Waiting For?
The movie’s content, storyline, and themes have significance to how the audience looks at the protagonist! With three mainline entries and various TV series, the franchise has garnered a reputation for its exceptional character development.
“Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, but Today is a gift.” Well, it is today that matters for the audience, especially when people are crazy about the character and the franchise. Considering the film’s conception took four years to form, it has to be good if the last movie is a sendoff.
When you watch the movie, you realize that the director has tried to keep many scenes in the film as a homage to anime. The Chinese audience was quite impressed by how culture has been used and how details have been developed based on the attention.
Now we must wait to see who plays the illustrious villain, the Chameleon! We also need to realize how Po has grown into a dragon master and how he will protect his people from evil.
Keep Getting Inspired…
So, are you waiting to watch Kung Fu Panda 4? If you are a fan of Jack Black and his comedic streak, you must watch the film because it is one of the best in the animated movie genre!
Apart from that, being a martial arts lover will also influence the way you watch the movie and follow all the updates we provide for you! After all, who does not like to watch a pudgy panda, all cute but a freak when it comes to fighting?
Comment below on which is your favorite film in the franchise!
Read Also:
