"Kung Fu Panda 4" First Look Unveiled

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation have released the official trailer for "Kung Fu Panda 4", the latest entry of the popular franchise starring Jack Black.

Coming March 8, with direction by Mike Mitchell, the movie will mark the first Panda chapter since 2016 (the first sequel to the 2008 original came in 2011). 

In addition to Black’s Dragon Warrior panda Po, the cast includes the voices 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 Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis. Awkwafina plays the quick-witted thief Zhen, and Viola Davis plays wicked, powerful sorceress Chameleon.

Joining the franchise is Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) plays a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

The official synopsis reads: "After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace."

"Kung Fu Panda 4" is directed by Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Shrek Forever After) and produced by Rebecca Huntley (DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys). 

The movie’s co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power).

The 2008 Kung Fu Panda became DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing original animated film and launched a franchise that has earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box-office.