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Kung Fu Panda 5: Director Mike Mitchell Hints New Updates On Upcoming Project; Deets
While the sequel news is music to the ears of Kung Fu Panda fans, Mitchell’s update on the potential release window is a buzzkill.
Earlier this year, Kung Fu Panda 4 smashed the box office, grossing six times its budget and going head-to-head with another blockbuster, Dune: Part Two. The latest installment’s soaring success sparked hopes of the fifth sequel, which was finally teased by Kung Fu Panda 4 director Mike Mitchell.
He confirmed that the next installment is in talks of being greenlit. While the news is music to the ears of Kung Fu Panda fans, Mitchell’s update on the potential release window is a buzzkill.
Mike Mitchell drops new update on Kung Fu Panda 5
Animation films aren’t a piece of cake, who better to explain than director Mike Mitchell with multiple animated blockbusters under his belt? The Shrek Forever After filmmaker opened up about his wish to continue charting Po’s journey as he transitions into a Spiritual Leader while training Zhen to become a competent Dragon Warrior.
According to him, fans won’t get another Kung Fu Panda sequel until after 2027. “The technology does move ahead, but somehow these things always take three years to make. I don't know why that is,” Mitchell told ComicBook’s Liam Crowley. The revelation came after the director was asked if the fifth installment would materialize after another eight years.
To think of it, the Kung Fu Panda film series have been rather irregular with their release patterns. The first sequel came three years after the original 2008 installment, as Mitchell recently suggested. But then, a five-year wait later fans got Kung Fu Panda 3 in 2016. To top that, the fourth installment was released nearly a decade later in 2024.
Despite much success in the animated action comedy franchise that centers on the adorable warrior panda, Po and his mates, the makers haven’t been able to follow them up with swift sequels. On that note, the 53-year-old director added, “I think it's because it's actually harder to make a sequel because we have to make it now five times better than the first one.” Nevertheless, Mitchell promised that the wait was going to be worth it.
Mike Mitchell will be most likely helming the fifth installment. Other notable animated films by him are 2005’s hit, Sky High, 2019’s The Lego Movie 2, 2016’s Trolls, and 2011’s Puss in Boots.
Kung Fu Panda 4 plot and success
Kung Fu Panda 4 delves into Po’s journey as a Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. But before he makes the professional switch, he must train another Dragon Warrior in his place to protect his Staff of Wisdom. He stumbles upon the witty corsac fox, Zhen, and embarks on a mission to train her to become the next Dragon Warrior.
The movie premiered in theatres on March 8, 2024, and quickly severed box-office records. It earned $539 million worldwide against a budget of $85 million, per Box Office Mojo. However, it slacked in critical acclaim in comparison to Kung Fu Panda 3.
Cast members included Jack Black as Po, Awkwafina as Zhen, Bryan Cranston as Li Shan, Ke Huy Quan as Han, Viola Davis as The Chameleon, and James Hong as Mr. Ping.
Kung Fu Panda 4 is digitally available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD.
Disclaimer: Box office numbers mentioned in the article are obtained from our own sources and diverse public platforms. We take all efforts to share possible accurate numbers, however unless otherwise mentioned they are all approximates, but appropriately portrays the BO performance of the project. We are open to feedback and suggestions on editorial@pinkvilla.com.
ALSO READ: Kung Fu Panda 4 Review: Po saves The Valley Of Peace but the film, only to an extent
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