I got to talk with Awkwafina about her role as Zhen in Kung Fu Panda 4 from Dreamworks Animation, and her role as Grand Marshall of the San Francisco Lunar New Year Parade, which took place last Saturday to close out the Lunar New Year 2024 observance and celebration.
Kung Fu Panda 4 opens in theaters on March 8 and features a voice cast with Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Bryan Cranston, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng, and James Hong.
The short interview was conducted at the iconic Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. I don’t have a photo, but I assure you that Awkwafina’s outfit gave exact Jessica Jones vibe — black leather jacket, white shirt, jeans — and may have inspired the action-movie/Marvel tangent that happened.
Dom Mah: What would you like to tell us about Kung Fu Panda 4 and your role in it?
Awkwafina: Kung Fu Panda, first of all, was one of my favorite movies growing up. I really loved it. I like the humor in it, I like the way they weave in specific, funny and relatable cultural aspects. This time around, we have a lot of new characters, I’m one of them, I play a fox named Zhen. We also have Viola Davis playing a very, very scary character.
She’s the villain, a shapeshifter, yeah?
Probably the ultimate villain! Yeah, I deeply enjoyed being a part of it. And also just knowing what was going to happen to these characters that I was a fan of in real life. It’s gonna have all of it.
Correct me if I’m wrong, if we count Shang-Chi, Kung Fu Panda 4 would be your second action-genre movie, or no?
You’re definitely not wrong (laughs), but I think of it more like the characters are doing all the action? ‘Cause I’m just in a booth with sweatpants on. But yes, definitely action. I guess you could also consider Renfield, that’s more horror….
I missed that one. Did you kill vampires in that one, personally?
I attempted to. Yeah.
But I mean, if you were offered the role where you had to be the super-fit action star one, say, an X-Men or one of the Spider-Women, would you get really jacked, like hardcore physically train? Are you open to that?
I am. When we were doing Shang-Chi, I remember they were asking, because they’re very nice at Marvel and they offer you all the stuff you might need. They offered [the training regimen] to me and I was like (laughs), “I think I’m good. I’ll let Shang-Chi do that. I’m chilling.” I would do that, though, yes.
Can we talk a bit about this year’s Lunar New Year Parade? I’m a Bay Area person, so it’s very touching to me that you’re Grand Marshal-ing our San Francisco-based Lunar New Year Parade. Talk a little bit about how you came to this event, on this year?
Obviously this parade is huge, it’s the biggest in the country. I have family that originally came through part of San Francisco, I have family that live here. So it was a deep honor when I was asked to Grand Marshal. I know that Michelle [Yeoh] and Jon Chu have also done it. And so I texted Michelle for some advice, I don’t know if she saw it. I’m a little nervous, but I’m deeply honored to be here. Just the ask, is an honor.
Well, it’s super-nice to to have you here. I’m going to ask a question that sometimes starts a little bit of beef, it’s not a personal thing, it’s a light-hearted beef that would get started.
Okay….
We think of you as an East Coast-associated person, and also you spend a lot of time in California doing stuff, so, what DO you think of West Coast Chinese food, or the Korean food? Compared to in New York and on the East Coast? Because some people get very particular.
Really? I feel like that’s more of a pizza thing, right? Bagels and pizza?
Yeah, those too.
I’m gonna be completely honest. In L.A., the Korean food is the best I’ve ever had. L.A. Korean food is on another level. The Chinese food, San Francisco has great Chinese food, I haven’t been to that much in L.A. I’ve had way more Korean food in L.A.
Bagels, though, are different in California. I’m not going to enter myself into that, but I think it has to do with the NYC tap water.
There’s something in the water. So, specifically about San Francisco, it’s great to be in the Fairmont Hotel having this interview. There was that scene in Shang-Chi where you’re valet-ing cars–
Yeah, I worked here! My character [Katy in Shang-Chi] works here.
I just have to say, it was very touching to us as an Asian American audience, it was during the pandemic, we rented a place for a private screening just so we could watch Shang-Chi, and then the karaoke scene came up and we’re like, “that’s what Asian Americans do,” and it touched us a lot. So along those lines, what’re your actual two favorite karaoke songs?
Two favorite, hmm, well, you got the classics, and… I like to finish with a strong “Wonderwall,” you know what I mean? Lately, I like doing “Take It Easy” by the Eagles.
Oh cool, that rocks! Oh, and what animal are you in the Chinese Zodiac?
I’m the year of the Dragon. So, this is my year.
This is your year. So, along those lines, what are you looking forward to this year?
Oh, man. I hope like, all of the textbook Chinese tenets of prosperity and good fortune, right? But we’ll see. Just getting by, you know, at the very least.
What else would you add about Kung Fu Panda 4 for our audience of nerds of color?
I think it’s going to be deeply enjoyable. Jack Black, as usual, really shines in it. This is a big one, if you’re a fan of the franchise. In terms of [Po] looking back on life, looking back on everything. I think it’ll be really fun to watch for everybody.
I thought it was real fun. Thank you, Happy New Year. Can I give you a hongbao, or is that weird? Does that break the rules of journalism?
No, it doesn’t. Thank you. Gung hay fat choy!
And they all lived happily ever after. What I mean is, later there was the parade through San Francisco’s downtown, and Chinatown. It was quite a busy scene, so I missed the life-size Po setting off fireworks, which supposedly happened.
Happy Year of the Dragon to all, good luck out there, and please enjoy the delightful adventure that is Kung Fu Panda 4 when it arrives in theaters next week.
新年快樂,恭喜發財, 紅包拿來.
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