Awkwafina has a key role in Kung Fu Panda 4, and she could very well become a returning character in the series. The Kung Fu Panda movie franchise was a surprise success for DreamWorks when the first film premiered in 2008. Kung Fu Panda was not based on any existing IP, and the combination of martial arts and unfamiliar animal protagonists did not guarantee that the movie would be a success. None of that mattered, however, as Kung Fu was a mᴀssive commercial and critical smash hit and has led to a huge franchise with sequels, spinoffs, games, and more.
The Kung Fu Panda franchise has featured numerous talented actors as part of their varied voice casts, and Kung Fu Panda 4 is no different, introducing Nora Lum, or as she’s best known, Awkwafina, to the story. Awkwafina is a movie and TV star, rapper, and comedian who has impressively risen from YouTube stardom to being a member of the MCU, the star of her own TV show, and a fantastic host on SNL. She’s suited for comedy and drama, and her role in Kung Fu Panda 4 uses her impressive range of emotive voice acting.
Awkwafina Plays Zhen, A Corsac Fox Thief, In Kung Fu Panda 4
Zhen Becomes The Next Dragon Warrior
Awkwafina plays Zhen in the Kung Fu Panda 4 cast, a corsac fox and petty thief who Po (Jack Black) apprehends at the beginning of the film. Po releases Zhen so that she can help him stop the nefarious kung fu shapeshifter, The Chameleon (Viola Davis). However, Zhen reveals she has double-crossed Po for The Chameleon, a betrayal that doesn’t last long when The Chameleon endangers Po. Zhen joins forces with Pop and, at the same time, proves herself a worthy successor to the panda as the new Dragon Warrior, an heir Po has been looking for all film.
Zhen’s arc is arguably more important than Po’s in this fourth film, and it somewhat mirrors Po’s in the first movie.
Zhen’s arc is arguably more important than Po’s in this fourth film, and it somewhat mirrors Po’s in the original Kung Fu Panda. Like Po, Zhen seemed to be the last person who should be selected to be the Dragon Warrior, but she proves herself, defeating The Chameleon. Awkwafina’s ability to sound like she’s about to cry and laugh at the same time makes her perfect for the role of Zhen. She’s torn between betraying Po and wanting to help him, and Awkwafina’s performance balances those emotions.
Like all the animals featured in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, corsac foxes are native to China, specifically Northern China, and are also known as “steppe foxes”.
Po and Zhen’s relationship is crucial to the film working and fortunately, Awkwafina and Black have excellent chemistry, their characters bouncing off one and propelling the plot forward at a propulsive pace. Like most animated movies, the voice actors recorded their parts separately, but Awkwafina and Black were together for one day, which Awkwafina fondly recalled on The Kelly Clarkson Show:
“I understand why it is isolated, because he’s so funny. And he goes, so like… He gives it all, dude… I think I was laughing. I was laughing and it was like, ‘I’m ruining the take, probably.’ But yeah, I don’t think it’s good to do animation with one mic and like the whole cast doing it like the Bee Gees or something, you know?”
The pair clearly had a fun time together, and their chemistry is obvious even when not doing Kung Fu Panda 4. In a Tastemade promotional video for the movie, Black and Awkwafina make cakes while answering questions, and their back-and-forth has a similar electric energy to their characters in the movie.
Awkwafina’s Zhen Returning To Kung Fu Panda 5 Is A Logical Next Step
The Corsac Fox’s Role May Even Be Bigger Than Po’s
At the moment, Kung Fu Panda 5 is not confirmed. However, if Kung Fu Panda 5 does happen, Zhen, as the new Dragon Warrior, will almost certainly be in it. Likely, she will even be the main character. Po could also be in the film and move into Master Shifu’s (Dustin Hoffman) role as he trains his new ward. Kung Fu Panda 4 even sets up some new Furious Five spinoffs that could include the corasc fox, meaning Kung Fu Panda 4 is almost certainly not the end of the road for Zhen and Awkwafina.
Could Kung Fu Panda 5 Work With Zhen As The Main Character?
Zhen Had Mixed Audience Reception In Kung Fu Panda 4
While it’s all but a given that Zhen will be back for Kung Fu Panda 5, the size of her role could have a great impact on the film’s success. From a storytelling standpoint, Kung Fu Panda 4 certainly set her up to take over from Po as the franchise protagonist, given that she’s the new Dragon Warrior. However, this runs the risk of alienating audiences, who had a mixed reception to the character. While almost everyone agrees Awkwafina did a great job, many expressed disappointment at the Furious Five’s reduced screentime in the fourth movie, in favor of Zhen’s introduction.
There’s also the fear that making Zhen the new Kung Fu Panda protagonist will simply turn the franchise into a retread of Po’s journey, given how similar Zhen’s is to his. On the flip side, Po headlining a fifth Kung Fu Panda movie could make the film series feel a bit stale, and some new blood at the helm might be just what it needs to keep things fresh. And if the Furious Five got a bigger role in Kung Fu Panda 5, there’s no reason to think that Awkwafina’s Zhen couldn’t carry the movie.
