Kung Fu Panda 4 cast: Is the original cast back in the new movie?

If you are a fan of the Kung Fu Panda movie franchise, then you will be excited for the upcoming debut of Kung Fu Panda 4 on Friday, March 8. Since there are going to be new faces joining the movie, how many original cast members are still part of the latest installment?

In Kung Fu Panda 4, Po, voiced by actor Jack Black, is on the path towards becoming the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of the Peace. Before taking on this role, he will need to find a new trainee to take over as Dragon Warrior.

Of course, there is someone new who will throw a wrench into his plans. A sorceress who is known as the Chameleon is planning to bring back previous villains that Po has fought through the years.

Joining Jack Black, who has been with the film franchise since the beginning, will be Viola Davis, who is voicing the role of the Chameleon. Other stars of the film include Awkwafina (Zhen), Dustin Hoffman (Shifu), James Hong (Mr. Ping), and Ke Huy Quan (Han).

Besides Black, who else from the original film will be part of the fourth film? 

Black will not be the only original Kung Fu Panda star returning for the film. Other stars who appeared in at least one of the previous films and are returning for the fourth installment include Bryan Cranston as Li, who is Po’s birth father, Ian McShane as Tai Lung the snow leopard, Hoffman as Kung Fu master Shifu, Rogen, and Hong as Mr. Ping, who is Po’s adoptive father.

From the looks of it, Tai Lung may be one of the villains that the Chameleon is plotting to bring back from the past. Zhen will be the new trainee Po is gearing up to take his place as Dragon Warrior.

As for Po’s friends consisting of the Furious Five, likely, we will still get to see them. They were all voiced by actors David Cross, Jackie Chang, Seth Rogen, Angelina Jolie, and Lucy Liu. 

In an interview, director Mike Mitchell confirmed their appearance but did point out that Po’s journey would take him outside of Valley of the Peace, so we will be seeing new characters in addition to returning favorites.

Kung Fu Panda 4 comes from Universal Pictures and is directed by Mitchell and Stephanie Stine. Writers for the film include Jonathan Aibel, Darren Lemke, and Glenn Berger. Rebecca Huntley is the producer for the film.