Fans of the Kung Fu Panda franchise were surprised by the noticeable absence of the Furious Five in the latest installment, ‘Kung Fu Panda 4.’ Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Viper, and Mantis, Po’s fellow warriors and friends, were largely missing from the trailers and promotional materials.
This leads to speculation and concern among the audience who were worrying about the character’s future. However, director Mike Mitchell has assured fans that the Furious Five haven’t been forgotten.
Why The Furious Five Were MIA In ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’
In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Mitchell explained the reasoning behind the decision. “For part four,” he said, “we wanted to expand the world of Kung Fu Panda and take Po on a journey outside the Valley of Peace for the first time.” This new direction presented a unique opportunity to explore Po’s growth and development as the Dragon Warrior.
Previous films heavily relied on the dynamic between Po and the Furious Five, but ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ allows Po to stand on his own two (paws?) and face challenges that test his leadership and skills in a fresh environment. Mitchell acknowledged the importance of the Furious Five “We all love The Furious Five. They’re such cool characters, and they’re such a part of the franchise.”
However, he felt it was necessary to focus on a different aspect of Po’s story in this film. “We thought for this one we might take just a little bit of a break,” he explained. Additionally, this doesn’t necessarily mean the Furious Five were sitting idly by during Po’s adventure. Mitchell hinted that the film might offer glimpses of their whereabouts, suggesting they might be on separate missions of their own.
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Mike Mitchell On Plans For The Furious Five In the Future
While their presence was limited in ‘Kung Fu Panda 4,’ Mitchell revealed exciting plans for the future of the Furious Five. He expressed his enthusiasm for exploring their stories further, perhaps even in a standalone project. “They have been a big part of the story for part one, two, and three,” he said. “We had a bunch of stories with them that just didn’t fit into the film.”
This suggests a potential spin-off focusing on the Furious Five’s individual adventures could be in the works. Additionally, the decision to exclude the Furious Five from a major role in ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ might have surprised fans. However, it seems to be part of a larger plan to expand the Kung Fu Panda universe.
By focusing on Po’s solo journey, the film allows him to grow as a character and sets the stage for future stories that could delve deeper into the lives of the Furious Five. Whether they appear in a future Kung Fu Panda film or embark on their own adventures, one thing is certain, the future of the Furious Five remains bright.
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