Kung Fu Panda 2 Gets Release Date

DreamWorks Animation Film Stars Jack Black, Angelina Jolie

Oct 6, 2008

DreamWorks Animation announced that Kung Fu Panda 2 will kick its way into theatres on June 3, 2011. Jack Black and Angelina Jolie will reprise their roles.

DreamWorks Animation has announced that the next installment of the Kung Fu Panda saga will make its theatrical bow on June 3, 2011, coming to both regular and IMAX(R) cinemas. This film will go up against another animated sequel, Disney/Pixar's Cars 2, which will roll into theatres sometime during that summer as well.

Like all upcoming DreamWorks Animation films post-Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Kung Fu Panda 2 will be produced in stereoscopic 3-D. There's as yet no word on what the film will be about, but rest assured there will be plenty of fat panda jokes, and the occasional topical reference.

The sequel will once again star Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and other original cast members still to be determined. Jennifer Yuh Nelson, head of story on Kung Fu Panda, will direct the flick, with Melissa Cobb producing. Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, who wrote and co-produced the original film, will also return.

"We are thrilled to reunite the creative team that made Kung Fu Panda such a global success," said DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg in the press release. "Because of their imaginative work, Po's path to heroism proved popular with moviegoers of all ages around the world."

The original flick made more than $215 million in domestic box office, and over $411 million in internationally, to date. It stands as DreamWorks' most successful original film to date. In contrast, Disney/Pixar's WALL-E has made $405.6 million around the world.

"The story of Kung Fu Panda provided a great introduction to these characters and afforded wonderful opportunities to further expand on the world we created in ancient China," added Bill Damaschke, Co-President of Production and President of Live Theatrical. "Quite simply, there's more story to tell."

DreamWorks hopes that the upcoming storylines for Kung Fu Panda will encompass five more films, making 6 in total. That's one more than Katzenberg's vision for the Shrek franchise, which he hopes will be able to get to 5 films. The next installment, Shrek Goes Fourth, goes up against Toy Story 3 in the summer of 2010.

The original Kung Fu Panda is coming to Blu-Ray and DVD on November 7th. Included in the package will be an animated short entitled "Secrets of the Furious Five." Look for a review coming soon to this space.

Fun Fact: Do you think DreamWorks Animation can make a watchable Kung Fu Panda 2? Drop a comment and let us know what you think.

The copyright of the article Kung Fu Panda 2 Gets Release Date in Hollywood Animated Films is owned by Dominic von Riedemann. Permission to republish Kung Fu Panda 2 Gets Release Date in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.