EntertainmentMoviesAnimation MoviesKung Fu PandaKung Fu Panda 4’s Jack Black likens Po to Star Wars' Obi-Wan Kenobi as he teases future of the franchiseWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesAnimation MoviesKung Fu PandaKung Fu Panda 4’s Jack Black likens Po to Star Wars' Obi-Wan Kenobi as he teases future of the franchiseWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Dreamworks/Universal Pictures)
Kung Fu Panda 4star Jack Black has likened the titular character to Star Wars' Obi-Wan Kenobi, as he teases the “rad” future for the DreamWorks Animation franchise.
With the film not out until March 28, we won’t reveal whether Po ends up embracing the change or not here, but even if he does, Black is certain the hairy hero could live on in the series in a different way.
“I see it as much like what was his name in Star Wars? Han Solo? The spiritual leader that passes on to like the new plane…? Obi-Wan Kenobi!” he laughed in a new interview withGamesRadar+. (If you’re not too clear on the reference: Alec Guinness’s Obi-Wan Kenobi died in the first Star Wars movie, before appearing to Luke Skywalker as a guidance-giving Force ghost in follow-upsThe Empire Strikes Backand Return of the Jedi). “I mean, who knows what the future holds, but I think the spiritual leader could be a cool character to explore.
“Maybe he’ll have the power to levitate and move stuff with his mind. He may have some new powers we haven’t even considered yet. Yeah. There’s lots of rad adventures that Po could go on as this new kind of character, you know?”
Elsewhere in the chat, Black, who will next be seen – or more accurately, heard – in video game adaptationBorderlands, explained how his own life influenced his voice performance as Po this time around.
“I [thought] about my big life change, which was starting a family with my wife, Tanya, and having our boys and how big an impact that had on my priorities and what I thought was important in life. Yeah, that kind of correlates with Po’s journey, where he’s going into this new phase of his life where he’s going to be the spiritual leader.
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“Change isn’t easy, but sometimes that’s where the magic and the mystery of life is,” he continued. “It resonated with me and I think it will with audiences, too.”
Also starring the likes of Bryan Cranston, James Hong, Awkwafina, and Viola Davis, Kung Fu Panda 4 releases on March 28. In the meantime, check out our breakdown of the most excitingupcoming moviesheading our way.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”