DreamWorks Animation’s tent-pole franchise is getting ready to make a big splash on the giant screen with a lot many cuddly Pandas this time around in Kung Fu Panda 3.
In the original DreamWorks animation, Po – voiced by Jack Black – has never met another panda, having originally been raised by a goose. However, from the first Kung Fu Panda 3 images, that hit the net recently he finally gets reunited with his kin – including a few very special individuals.
Po is set to uncover a ‘secret panda village’ in which his real, biological father Li, voiced by Bryan Cranston, also resides. Also found in the village: an overeager, amorous young female panda Mei Mei (Rebel Wilson), a wannabe ribbon dancer.
“Po’s a little freaked out, since he’s never been around a female of his own species,” star Jack Black said. “I don’t think he has game in that realm yet.”
Although a lot of new characters will surely be thrown into the mix, Kung Fu Panda 3 will also see the return of some familiar faces and voices, including Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), Crane (David Cross) and Mr. Ping (James Hong).
Meanwhile, the new voices are bringing their own talents in the recording studio. Wilson even wrote a love poem dedicated to Po and pulled out pink nunchucks during her first meeting with directors to demonstrate how much she was thinking about her animated character.
From the looks of things, the third installment might offer a lot of closure for the character of Po. The second movie certainly pulled on the heartstrings regarding his relationship with his estranged parents.