“I’M PO FOR LIFE!”
AFTER eight years, Kung Fu Panda is back! Po, the Dragon Warrior, is called upon by destiny to… give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. We had a chat with iconic actor Jack Black to find out more about his character’s new challenge.
Hi Jack, loving the beard!
Thank you! It’s got a good colour scheme. I didn’t dye it at all. It just naturally happens that way, like a panda.
What was it like to be on this new journey with Po?
I love playing Po. I love these adventures and I love getting in the booth and just cooking up some magic, making people laugh and telling new stories. Our writers really kicked butt on this script and it’s got some twists and turns in there. There are some mind-blowing fight scenes and some big laughs. Who was your favourite person to work with on this movie?
We almost do everything alone and then they put our voices together at the end. But I did get a chance to work with Awkwafina, who plays my partner in crime, Zhen the fox. She’s like a ninja, and we help each other out. We start out kind of like enemies, but then we slowly become friends over the course of the movie and Awkwafina does the voice and she’s incredible. She’s funny in a dry way, and I’m funny in a childish way. The two of us kind of complete each other and it’s a great chemistry.
How can we all be more like Po?
Never wear a stinky shoe, lest your feet become stanky too. That’s just off the top of my head. I could do those all day, but I won’t. I’m going to leave you with the stanky shoe wisdom.
Do you want to play the character of Po forever?
All the way until I’m gone! I’ll disappear like Grand Master Oogway, and turn into a thousand golden leaves floating away. That’d be good. Yeah, I’m Po for life. Count on it.
Check out Kung Fu Panda 4, in cinemas from 28 March.