Summary

• The trailer for Kung Fu Panda 4 leaves out several notable characters, including the Furious Five, worrying fans.
• Despite their absence in the trailer, Tigress and the rest of the Furious Five will briefly appear in the movie.
• Other characters missing from the trailer, such as Oogway, Lord Shen, and Kai, are expected to be in the film.

The Kung Fu Panda franchise continues in 2024 with Kung Fu Panda 4, but the first trailer for the movie leaves a handful of notable characters out, worrying some that they aren't a part of the story. The animated martial arts comedy film from DreamWorks Animation serves as the fourth installment in the series and is a direct sequel to Kung Fu Panda 3, which came out in 2016. Eight years will have ed by the time the new movie premieres, and based on the premise and first look at the project, it will have been worth the wait (even if a few significant characters are nowhere to be seen in the trailer).

The animated film introduces a new villain, who might be Po's biggest opponent yet since she can replicate the Kung Fu of masters, alive or dead. The main cast of Kung Fu Panda 4 includes Jack Black as Po, Awkwafina as Zhen, Viola Davis as The Chameleon, Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, James Hong as Mr. Ping, Bryan Cranston as Li Shan, Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Ke Huy Quan as Han, and Lori Tan Chinn as Granny Boar. All these characters, some new and some returning, were seen in the trailer. However, one can't help but notice that eight characters who should be in the movie were not featured in the video.

8 Tigress

Voiced by Angelina Jolie

Of course, one of the first things that any fan would notice while watching the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer is that the Furious Five — Tigress, Mantis, Monkey, Viper, and Crane — are absent. They are some of the most skilled warriors in China and have been the ing protagonists in previous movies. So, surprisingly, they are nowhere to be found in the video.

Master Tigress, who Angelina Jolie voiced in the first three films in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, is a South China tiger and is regarded as the leader of the Furious Five. It would make sense if she ed Po in his fight, but director Mike Mitchell revealed that she and the Furious Five would be on individual missions in the fourth film. Even though Tigress isn't in the trailer, she, along with her four comrades, will make a brief appearance in Kung Fu Panda 4.

7 Mantis

Voiced by Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen's Mantis, a Chinese mantis, isn't in the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer, like the rest of the Furious Five. But as mentioned above, he will be on another mission while Po deals with the Chameleon and past foes in the DreamWorks animated picture. Although Mantis is small, he is unbelievably strong and fast, so his abilities will undoubtedly be missed during the next fight. Mantis will be in the movie, but only in a small capacity, which is rather disappointing for those who have been waiting eight years for the fourth installment.

6 Monkey

Voiced by Jackie Chan

Monkey has had a prominent role in the previous three Kung Fu Panda films, but his presence will be minimal in the fourth movie. Jackie Chan has voiced the golden snub-nosed monkey, so he is expected to reprise his role in the story, even if Monkey is nowhere to be found in the trailer. One can assume that Monkey will only appear in a short scene with the rest of the Furious Five before they go on their separate missions, but only time will tell what his cameo will look like.

5 Viper

Voiced by Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu's Viper, a green tree viper, is missing from the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer, and that's because of all the reasons listed above regarding the Furious Five's story in the animated project. Viper's role is reduced, meaning there is no point in showing her in the first-look video. Since she and the other warriors only appear briefly in the film, the producers likely want to keep Viper's scene a secret until the theatrical release.

4 Crane

Voiced by David Cross

The final member of the Furious Five, Crane, voiced by David Cross, also can't be spotted in the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer. Crane, a black-necked crane, has always been there to catch the other characters when they fall (literally). So, hopefully, Po and his new friends won't be falling from great heights in the 2024 DreamWorks movie because Crane will be off on his own mission when the Chameleon challenges the Dragon Warrior.

3 Oogway

Voiced by Randall Duk Kim

Even though Randall Duk Kim's Grand Master Oogway died at the end of the first film, he has appeared in every movie since, so it was shocking to learn that he is missing from the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer. The Galápagos Tortoise is the former senior heaster of the Jade Palace and the creator of Kung Fu, and he has played a significant role in the franchise. DreamWorks Animation has not confirmed whether Oogway will appear in the movie, but it would make sense if his possible involvement is being kept under wraps if it's meant to be a surprise.

2 Lord Shen

Voiced by Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman played Lord Shen, the main antagonist of Kung Fu Panda 2, and he died by the end of the sequel. However, the leucistic Indian peafowl will likely be a part of the story in Kung Fu Panda 4 because of his status as a previous villain. The Chameleon is bringing back Po's old foes that he vanquished from the Spirit Realm and absorbing their abilities. Tai Lung, the main antagonist of the first film, can be seen in the trailer for the fourth installment, so it would only make sense if the Chameleon also copied the Kung Fu of Lord Shen as a part of her evil plan.

1 Kai

Voiced by J.K. Simmons

The last character missing from the Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer is Kai, who was voiced by J.K. Simmons in the third movie. Kai, a bull, was Po's main opponent in Kung Fu Panda 3, and just like Lord Shen, he is expected to make a cameo in the 2024 animated project. Po vanquished Kai, but that won't stop the Chameleon from bringing him back from the Spirit Realm and using him to defeat the giant panda. Only time will tell, but since Tai Lung returns in Kung Fu Panda 4, it might be safe to say that so will Lord Shen and Kai.

Kung Fu Panda 4 premieres on March 8, 2024.