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Here's Everything to Know About the Cast of Kung Fu Panda 4
From Bryan Cranston to Viola Davis, the “Valley of Peace” has never seen so much talent as it does in Kung Fu Panda 4.
Hold on to your dumplings! Our favorite Warrior Hero, Po Ping, returns after an 8-year absence in DreamWork’s Kung Fu Panda 4, premiering in theatres nationwide on March 8. From what we’ve seen in the teaser, Po is poised to begin a new journey as the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace (once he masters his meditation techniques, at least). Fans will be delighted to see many familiar characters from the previous three movies and several exciting additions, like the new reptile villain “The Chameleon.”
Here, we take a closer look at the star-studded cast.
Jack Black (Po)
Jack Black is known for holding nothing back in his comedy, and it’s a trait that works well when voice acting, too. He downright stole the show in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as the villain, Bowser — not to mention Shark Tale. But he most often owns smaller, weirder roles like the Texas mortician in the dark comedy Bernie or when he played a Catholic friar-slash-luchador in 2004’s Nacho Libre. Even when jumping around in his underwear in classics like Orange County (written by Mike White) – he’s somehow always riveting.
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Awkwafina (Zhen)
Awkwafina’s talents are too varied for just one medium. She is not only a rapper and one of Hollywood’s rising comedic stars but also has a serious streak. She won a Golden Globe in 2019 for her role in the touching dramatic-comedy The Farewell, and she’s been excellent in Ocean’s 8, Crazy Rich Asians, and Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The 35-year-old Queens native has taken the world of voice acting by storm as well, most recently as the tough-talking pigeon, Chump, in Migration.
Viola Davis (The Chameleon)
Davis has gathered literally armloads of awards, and is a bona fide “EGOT” winner, nabbing an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. The Juilliard grad earned an Emmy in 2015 for her dramatic lead in the first season of How to Get Away with Murder, making her the first Black woman to win an Emmy in that category. The Academy Award came for her supporting role opposite Denzel Washington in 2016’s Fences.
Dustin Hoffman (Shifu)
Take one look at Hoffman’s storied career, and it’s astonishing how versatile the 86-year-old is. Ever since his breakout role in 1967’s The Graduate, the legendary actor has starred in one zeitgeisty film after another, from Kramer vs. Kramer and Rain Man to The Lost City and Death of Salesman. More recent movies include the mystery Into the Labyrinth and the 2022 comedy Sam & Kate, where he got the chance to act alongside his real-life son, Jake Hoffman.
James Hong (Mr. Ping)
After Everything Everywhere All at Once swept the Oscars in 2022, Hong — who won a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for his role — finally got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 95-year-old is one of the most prolific character actors of all time (Bonanza, I Spy, Perry Mason, Hawaii 5-0), but hasn’t had many parts that put him center stage. Perhaps he’s too busy with voice acting, taking on roles in Mulan, Teen Titans, and more.
Bryan Cranston (Li)
When Bryan Cranston gets a big role, like in his most recent movie, Argylle, you can’t stop watching him. It’s no surprise the multi-award winner has starred in several binge-worthy TV shows like Malcolm in the Middle and Better Call Saul. He’s perhaps best known for Breaking Bad, where he brought just enough humanity to the tortured character of Walter White (a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin) to make him sympathetic. He brings the same intensity to gems like Asteroid City and The Infiltrator. He’s also no stranger to voice acting, taking roles in Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Adult Swim’s comedy series Robot Chicken, and the FX series Archer.
Ian McShane (Tai Lung)
Though this iconic British actor has had many notable gigs in his nearly 50-year career, McShane cemented his place in pop culture in roles where he portrays criminal masterminds. He played Winston Scott in all four installments of the John Wick movie franchise, a smooth-talking criminal in Sexy Beast, and a calculating saloon owner on the HBO Western revival Deadwood. He also brought a distinctive pirate drawl to Shrek the Third, where he voiced none other than Captain Hook.
Kung Fu Panda 4 brings together new characters and familiar faces
Fans of the film franchise will be happy to know that Jack Black is reprising his iconic role as Po, and he’ll be up against a new nemesis: The Chameleon, an intriguing reptile sorceress played by Viola Davis.
Ian McShane from the original Kung Fu Panda seems perfectly cast as the supernatural snow leopard, Tai Lung — no need to mess with perfection. Two more returning voices are Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father, Li and Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master Shifu.
A new character appearing in the movie is Zhen, a sly fox played by Awkwafina, who is learning to be the new Dragon Warrior under Po’s guidance. Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan joins the ensemble as Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves. Rounding out the main cast is James Hong, who voices Po's adoptive father, Mr. Ping.
Kung Fu Panda hits theaters on March 8.
