According to current estimates, the fourth installment of the Kung Fu Panda franchise will debut domestically over Oscar weekend for a nearly record-breaking $55 million.
This would be a victory for DreamWorks Animation and parent company Universal in addition to the family market – with $3.8 from Thursday previews, Kung Fu Panda 4‘s $13.8 million Friday opening gross marked the beginning of the film’s big-screen run.
The animated film has a fantastic cast that includes both familiar and unfamiliar voices, despite its early box office struggles. Here are the voices of the characters from Kung Fu Panda 4:
Po (Jack Black)
Since we first met him in 2008, beloved butt-kicker Po (voiced by Jack Black) has come a long way, and his greatest desire is to fight alongside the Furious Five. In the most recent episode, he travels with Grey Fox Zhen to evaluate the growing threat posed by a power-hungry, shape-shifting chameleon who is hatching a dark, magical plan.
Zhen (Awkwafina)
Wise silver fox growing up on the streets, Zhen (Awkwafina) had to battle for survival. Not only does she have the ideal paws (and tail) for pickpocketing, but her jade earring unfolds into a key that can unlock a majority of objects.
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Chameleon (Viola Davis)
Viola Davis is the voice behind the power-hungry Chameleon, who can shapeshift into any creature. When you combine this skill with some of kung fu’s layers, she makes for a very strong opponent.
Mr. Ping (James Hong)
Since the beginning, Mr. Ping has been Po’s adopted goose father. Po used to work at Mr. Ping’s noodle shop in the Valley of Peace until an incident involving fireworks caused him to fall in front of Master Oogway (voiced by Randall Duk Kim).
Li (Bryan Cranston)
Po discovers Li, his biological father, in Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016). He is the leader of the pandas, who, up until Po’s encounter with the villainous peacock Master Shen (voiced by Gary Oldman), were believed to be extinct. Li is equally as proud of his son’s actions as Mr. Ping is after realizing what his son has done.
Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman)
Master Shifu has also been around Po since the start of the animated creation, or at least close by. It required some time, but he eventually discovered that using food could inspire Po. After the ancient tortoise ascended to the spirit realm and left some important lessons in a peach pit and tree, the wise red panda assumed leadership from Master Oogway in the first movie.
Han (Ke Huy Quan)
Before Zhen started stealing and deceiving the people of Juniper City, Han, an armadillo, served as his mentor. He can ricochet off opponents and roll up into a scaly disc, which is useful in combat.
Granny Boar (Lori Tan Chinn)
Po and Awkwafina go to Granny Boar’s seaside tavern, which is perilously perched on a cliff, to look for a captain who can help them sail to Juniper City. She’s also skilled in kung fu and knows how to identify dishonest gamblers.
Fish Captain (Ronny Chieng)
It turns out they have a sort of captain. When the bartender gestures for Po and Zhen to ask someone, they initially believe it’s the pelican at the bar speaking to them. It turns out that the true mastermind behind their ship is a fish with a knife that resides in the pelican’s beak.
Tai Lung (Ian McShane)
Talk about a throwback to the past: before Po started training to become The Dragon Warrior, his first opponent was Tai Lung (Ian McShane). After being trained by Master Shifu to become a formidable fighter, Tai Lung, who had previously been a student and mentee of Shifu, developed a cold and avaricious desire for power. For Pete’s sake, the leopard managed to free itself from an immobile turtle shell using a feather.