Paramount PicturesEverybody loved Kung Fu fighting. Now those studio cats are working fast as lightning to get a sequel into production.
DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said that the animation giant has already begun talks to bring its family-friendly summer hit Kung Fu Panda, featuring the pipes of Jack Black and Angelina Jolie, back for a second go-round, though he cautioned that nothing had yet been set in stone.
"We've started conversations about it, and I think in the next 30 or 60 days, we'll be able to talk completely about that," Katzenberg told Reuters of his follow-up plans for the $560 million hit.
The studio honcho also dropped hints that another of its star-studded animation blockbusters, Madagascar, was set for another reprisal.
While the film's second incarnation, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, has already been completed and is due out Nov. 7, Katzenberg said the story of Central Park Zoo animals making their way back to the Big Apple had in it "at least one more chapter."
"We ultimately want to see the characters make it back to New York."
As it is, Madagascar, which grossed $530 million worldwide, served as the studio's biggest nonsequel hit ever until Kung Fu Panda delivered a swift high-kick to the record this summer.
As for the sequel, Madagascar 2's returning voice cast includes Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer, Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith, and also features the new addition of Bernie Mac, who passed away unexpectedly over the weekend.
"It's been a very hard week," Katzenberg told the Hollywood Reporter. "We love Bernie. He made an amazing contribution to this movie."