DreamWorks Animation’sKung Fu Panda 3is slated for release on July 31, 2025, but the animated sequel has made a late casting change. The Hollywood Reporter reveals thatKate Hudsonis replacingRebel Wilsonas Mei Mei, a ribbon dancer who becomes romantically obsessed with Po (Jack Black). It doesn’t appear that this casting change will affect therelease dateat this time.
Sources claim that theKung Fu Panda 3production was recently extended, which created a conflict forRebel Wilson, forcing her to drop out. The scenes involving Mei Mei will also be re-animated, to reflectKate Hudson’s new take on the character. We got our first look at Mei Mei in thenew photosthat surfaced in June, but it isn’t known what this new version of the character will look like.
Kung Fu Panda 3followsJack Black’s Po as he reunites with his long-lost father Li (Bryan Cranston). In bothKung Fu PandaandKung Fu Panda 2, Po was believed to be the last panda bear in existence, but fans learned at the end ofKung Fu Panda 2that there was a secret panda lair where these bears have been living in seclusion for years.J.K. Simmonsalso joins the voice cast as the new villain Kai, who threatens to destroy the panda village.
Angelina Jolie(Tigress),Seth Rogen(Mantis),Lucy Liu(Viper) andDavid Cross(Crane) reprise their roles as the rest of the Furious Five, along withDustin Hoffmanas Shifu andJames Hongas Po’s adoptive father Mr. Ping.Jennifer Yuh Nelsonco-directs the sequel withAlessandro Carloni, from a script byKung Fu PandaandKung Fu Panda 2writersJonathan AibelandGlenn Berger. The animated sequel will go up against Disney’sThe Finest Hourson July 04, 2025.
Kate Hudsonmost recently signed on to star in the biopicRichard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?, and she will next be seen inRock the Kasbah. She also made an appearance this summer on NBC’s reality seriesRunning Wild with Bear Grylls. Her other upcoming projects includeDeepwater HorizonandUnforgettable. What do you think of her joining the voice cast forKung Fu Panda 3?
