First Look: Zhen in ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ – Dreamworks Animation Promo

A new Dreamworks Animation promo shows the first look at Zhen, a fox who will be under Po’s tutelage to become the next Dragon Warrior (played by Awkwafina), in Kung Fu Panda 4.

Zhen is a character in the ‘Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness‘ TV series. She’s a young martial artist training at the Jade Palace with other main characters like Po and Tigress, appearing in a few episodes as a fellow student.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is the fourth installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Jack Black will voice Po, and the rest of the cast hasn’t been confirmed yet. It’s directed by Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine and produced by DreamWorks Animation.

What is the Plot of Kung Fu Panda 4?

In Kung Fu Panda 4, Po leaves the Valley of Peace for the city, where he has to face The Chameleon, a villain who can summon enemies from Po’s past. In addition to dealing with The Chameleon, Po also has to look for a replacement as he realizes that he cannot be the Dragon Warrior forever.

During CinemaCon 2023, Black said, “Po is set to become the new spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace, but before he can do that, he must find a successor to become the new Dragon Warrior. He appears to find one in Zhen, a fox with plenty of promising abilities who doesn’t quite like the idea of Po training him. The two eventually learn to get along, but becoming a true master-student team is just the beginning. Along comes The Chameleon, a villain with, as Black describes it, the “terrifying and totally unfair” ability to bring back villains from past Kung Fu Panda films like Tai Lung. Desperate to find a way to defeat The Chameleon, Po, and Zhen must leave the Valley of Peace and go into the big city for the first time.”

Kung Fu Panda is an American media franchise that originally started in 2008 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name, produced by DreamWorks Animation. Following the adventures of the titular Po Ping (primarily voiced by Jack Black and Mick Wingert), a giant panda who is improbably chosen as the prophesied Dragon Warrior and becomes a master of kung fu, the franchise is set in a fantasy wuxia genre version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic animals. Although his status is initially doubted, Po proves himself worthy as he strives to fulfill his destiny.

The first film of Kung Fu Panda was released on June 6, 2008. The film grossed 631.7 million worldwide and it was followed by two sequels Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) and Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016). Most recently a spinoff TV series, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight featuring Black reprising the voice of Po, James Hong reprising Mr. Ping, and Rita Ora released on Netflix.

Kung Fu Panda 4 will hit theaters on March 8, 2024, by Universal Pictures.