Jackie Chan's 'Panda Plan' sequel joins Spring Festival lineup

"Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe," a Jackie Chan action-comedy, will be released during China's Spring Festival holiday, typically the country's most lucrative box office period, its distributors said Wednesday.

A poster for "Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe." [Image courtesy of Maoyan Entertainment]

The film, a sequel to 2024's "Panda Plan," follows CGI panda cub Huhu and Chan after they accidentally enter an isolated tribe that reveres the panda as a divine beast. Chan must navigate tribal factions to protect Huhu as an ancient crisis threatens everyone. Comedian Ma Li plays the tribe's chief.

Acclaimed director Derek Hui helms the film, taking over from Zhang Luan, who directed the first installment. Other cast members include Qiao Shan, Yu Yang and Wang Yinglu.

Chan, 71, has long been passionate about giant pandas, often carrying panda plush toys at events, including on the Oscars red carpet. Since 2009, he has served as a panda ambassador for the Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Base, adopting two pandas and advocating for their protection.

He was also previously associated with the "Kung Fu Panda" franchise, voicing Monkey in the first three films. He said his involvement in the "Panda Plan" franchise stems from wanting to promote the animal — a national treasure of China — and its culture.

The first "Panda Plan" grossed 307 million yuan ($44 million) in China in 2024 and drew positive reviews for its return to Chan's classic kung fu comedy action.

"Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe" opens on Feb. 17, the first day of the Spring Festival holiday, also known as Chinese New Year, when China's box office usually peaks.

It will compete with five other releases: Zhang Yimou's spy thriller "Scare Out," Yuen Woo-ping's martial arts epic "Blades of the Guardians," Han Han's racing comedy "Pegasus 3," Han Yan's science-fiction adventure "Per Aspera ad Astra," and the animated feature "Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector."