'Kung Fu Panda 3' Release Dates, Cast & Plot: All You Need to Know

It's nearly four years since "Kung Fu Panda 2" was released, and the sequel's launch has been pushed back, to boot. Delays have plagued the third iteration of the hit animated flick, with DreamWorks Animation deciding to move the release date to March 18, 2016 from the initially planned December 23, 2015 launch target.

"The release date change felt frankly inevitable ever since Walt Disney moved 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' from May 2015 to December 18th, 2015," Forbes' Scott Mendelson noted, adding that the science fiction film will be a "box office monster."

"I would never tell a studio that they should willingly put themselves in the oncoming path of a hurtling train," he said. He, however, went on to say that releasing the animated feature within the same timeframe as "Star Wars" would have "worked" just because he "was more excited for 'Kung Fu Panda 3' than for 'Star Wars VII.'"

Do you feel the same way about "Kung Fu Panda 3"?

Aside from the release date, what we know so far is that the movie will have two directors.

"Jennifer Yuh will not be helming the latest installment in the 'Kung Fu Panda' franchise by herself," Deadline said in an exclusive update. "DreamWorks Animation has brought in Alessandro Carloni to co-direct 'Kung Fu Panda 3' with Yuh, the first woman to direct an animated feature solo at a Hollywood studio when she helmed 2011's 'Kung Fu Panda 2.'"

This development was due to the fact that Yuh herself wanted to bring Carloni on board in order to finish the movie on time.

"DWA agreed with Yuh that strengthening the director's bench on the film would ensure it was locked in time for a strong promotional campaign to be rolled out," the site said.

According to International Business Times, Po (played by Jack Black) will be facing two new enemies and will be "forced to conquer two 'hugely epic' threats."

The site also said that one threat is supernatural in nature and the other one will be coming "a little closer to home."

Meanwhile, Yahoo! News UK said "the villain of the upcoming movie is reportedly the deadliest one of the blockbuster animation movie franchise."

The news source also said that the movie will have Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross and Dustin Hoffman reprise their roles as Mantis, Viper, Crane and Master Shifu, respectively. Angelina Jolie will be back to voice Tigress.

There are rumors, however, that "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston will be in the sequel, reportedly as Po's father. Mads Mikkelsen ("Hannibal") and Rebel Wilson will be playing certain parts in the upcoming flick, according to rumors.

We'll know for sure when "Kung Fu Panda 3" finally drops next year.

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