Jack Black's character Po is master to a rag-tag band of kung fu students in Kung Fu Panda 3. Photo / AP
Jack Black's character Po is master to a rag-tag band of kung fu students in Kung Fu Panda 3. Photo / AP
Actor says third film his last — unless a killer story comes up.
Jack Black has voiced his kung fu-fighting panda Po probably for the last time.
The actor walked the red carpet in Sydney for the premiere of Kung Fu Panda 3, his third outing as the animated panda Master Po Ping, who becomes an unlikely dragon warrior.
Black wore a Po badge and mirrored sunglasses as he greeted fans and media at the premiere, spending almost an hour on the red carpet on Sunday night.
He revealed, however, that this could be the last time fans get to see the lovable animated character.
"Well three makes sense, it's a trilogy. What's four ... a four-ogy? It doesn't sound right, I think this is it," Black said.
There is a sliver of hope, though, for fans of the franchise - if the creators can come up with a good story, Black could be back in.
"If there's one thing I've learned, it's never say never. If we have a brilliant idea for another one, why not? We'll see," he said.
This time around, Black's character has graduated to the more senior position of kung fu master, tasked with teaching the ancient martial art to a bunch of fellow pandas - AKA the Furious Five - so they can take on a warrior from the spirit realm.
This rag-tag bunch are voiced by Hollywood heavyweights Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen and David Cross. Kate Hudson has also been drafted to play Mei Mei, a confident panda, while Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston plays Po's biological father.
Black has high praise for his fellow cast mates, describing Cranston as "the greatest actor of all time".
But there's one character who Black likes above all the others, a bunny who has one line and happens to be voiced by his 10-year-old son Sammy.
"It was great to be able to give him that opportunity. It's crazy," Black said.
The actor seemed pretty pleased that he was able to land his son some work.
"You know what? It's a family business, like all business is family business, I got my boy a job," he said.
He's not the only actor to get work for his offspring as his co-star, Jolie, also made sure four of her children had something to say in the film with Pax 12, Zahara, 10, Shiloh, 9, and Knox, 7, all given speaking roles.
