Kung Fu Panda 3 premiere: A chat with Jack Black, Kate Hudson, Jeffrey Katzenberg on the red carpet

The making of sequels involves a great dose of risk, but the team behind the Kung Fu Panda saga seems to have found the right mix of ingredients to keep audiences delighted. The third feature of the popular animation retains the freshness of the first two films and offers an impressive visual experience, especially in 3D. The latest development in the story sees the lovable and clumsy protagonist Po (voiced by Jack Black) reunited with his long-lost father Li (Bryan Cranston). The discovery of his origins leads to a series of emotional challenges and physical perils that make him question his identity.

Humour is still the driving force of the film and the comedy factor lives up to expectations. The battles provide much of the entertainment and the kung fu moves are better than ever; but there is more than action on offer. The third part of the franchise seeks to incorporate the philosophies behind the martial art while also imparting deeper lessons about family ties, friendship, and belonging to a community.

The London premiere, attended by a crowd of excited fans in Leicester Square, was a colourful and lively affair featuring costumed characters and a Chinese dragon dance. We caught up with Jack Black, who was in great form as he playfully interacted with fans and journalists, and Kate Hudson, the newest addition to the stellar cast. They spoke of the positive messages of the film and joked about their relationship

We then had a chat with The Vamps, who were greeted with boisterous cheers from their young fans. They told us about the excitement of their first experience working on a movie soundtrack and they even sang the chorus of Kung Fu Fighting for us!

Directors Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni talked to us about the work behind the scenes and gave us an insight into the dynamics of their working relationship. They also expressed their hopes and expectations for the future of animation films.

Bonnie Arnold, co-president of Feature Animation, also shared her thoughts on the world of animated productions while DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed what he believes to be the secret of Kung Fu Panda’s success. He also spoke of the journey of the saga up until this point and looking into the future, and shared the latest news about upcoming animation projects.

The fun atmosphere of the premiere was a good match for the lighthearted mood of Kung Fu Panda 3 and the event hinted at the many visual and thematic surprises that the film reserves. The attention that the film still attracts is a sure sign that there will be more sequels to follow

Mersa Auda
Shot by: Filippo L’Astorina