'Kung Fu Panda 3' News: 'This Movie Is Like Our Child,' 'Kung Fu Panda' Producer Says
The latest installment to the "Kung Fu Panda" franchise, "Kung Fu Panda 3," comes almost eight years after the first film was released and more than a decade since production on the original was started.
As such, it comes as no surprise that the animated film series has been "like a child" to its creators and that the making of "Kung Fu Panda 3" has turned into a family affair. It was previously reported that several of the main actors' children, including Jack Black's son Sammy, Dustin Hoffman's grandson Gus, and Angelina Jolie's children Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and Knox gave their voices to animal characters in the film.
"It's been 12 years since we first started the first 'Kung Fu Panda' movie," producer Melissa Cobb told The Hollywood Reporter from the film's world premiere at TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood last week. "Angelina Jolie didn't even have her twins until the second movie had ended," she said.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Cobb added: "This is such a family-oriented film more so than ever now that Po finally has found his father. And in many ways this movie is like our child."
"Kung Fu Panda 3" writer Jonathan Aibel and director Alessandro Carloni talked about how they were able to portray Po's issues with his family and his identity in a way that young children could relate to. According to Aibel, the movie was about a "tricky subject" that dealt with many different emotions, but they had to tell the story in a way that is "digestible" and funny.
"I think you became who you are thanks to your family, so even when you do something by yourself it was given to you," Carloni said. According to the "Kung Fu Panda 3" director, this is the "Kung Fu Panda" film in which Po really cannot save the situation all on his own. "This movie is about a village coming together, a family coming together to conquer evil," Carloni revealed.
"Kung Fu Panda 3" is produced by DreamWorks Animation and Oriental DreamWorks. It stars Jack Black (Po), Dustin Hoffman (Master Shifu), Bryan Cranston (Li Shan), Angelina Jolie (Tigress), Lucy Liu (Viper), Jackie Chan (Monkey), David Cross (Crane), Seth Rogen (Mantis), Kate Hudson (Mei Mei), J.K. Simmons (Kai), and James Hong (Mr. Ping).
"Kung Fu Panda 3" lands in cinemas on Friday, Jan. 29.
