More pandas are coming for DreamWorks' latest installment, "Kung Fu Panda 3." This comes from a new set of movie stills recently released by DreamWorks Animation.
Following two movies where Po, the cuddly panda voiced by Jack Black, had always been dubbed as the last surviving panda of his kind, USA Today reported that there is now an explosion of black and white onscreen. One image shows at least six pandas in the scene, with a baby panda riding on Po's belly.
In another screenshot, seen in the link above, shows Po with his long-lost father-a real panda this time instead of his foster duck father-who is voiced by Bryan Cranston. A reunion of the panda family has already been hinted at the end of the 2011 movie, "Kung Fu Panda 2."
"Lo and behold, there's a secret panda village. There's intense rejoicing as I am reunited with my people," said Black to USA Today.
"Kung Fu Panda 3" will also feature baby pandas in the secret village, with reports alluding to these new characters playing quite the role in the movie. There is even a female panda, featured in another screenshot, who wants to be a ribbon dancer.
This does not mean that fans will no longer see old characters from the previous movies. The Furious Five will still be returning, with the complete cast in tow; Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), Crane (David Cross) and Monkey (Jackie Chan). Dustin Hoffman will also be reprising his role as Po's and the Furious Five's trainer, Master Shifu.
"Kung Fu Panda 3" is now slated to release on early next year. This follows several movie release date changes, Forbes reported. Previously, the movie was supposed to release at the end of this year on Dec. 23. But to avoid clashing with the opening of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which release the week before, it was moved to Mar. 18, 2016.
However, this would put it in cinemas at the same time as "The Divergent Series: Allegiant" part I, as well as clash with audience sales for "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," set to release the week after.
But on a final note, and as a possible way to set a record on the box office for the year, DreamWorks Animation finally set the release date to January of next year. "Kung Fu Panda 3" will be released on Jan. 29, 2016.