For as long as he’s been making movies, Jack Black has been singing songs to accompany them. Take a look through his filmography, from breakout comedy School of Rock to blockbuster franchise Jumanji, and you’ll find Black credited on the soundtracks.
But even by his own high standards the 54-year-old has set a high bar lately.
Actor Jack Black is in Australia for the release of Kung Fu Panda 4.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Last year, the original song Peaches, which the Grammy winner co-wrote for the Super Mario Bros. film, became a viral hit while also nabbing a nomination for best original song at the Golden Globes. TikTok quickly embraced the track, which ended up charting on both the US Billboard 100 (reaching 56) and the ARIA charts here in Australia (a respectable 91).
For his latest project, Kung Fu Panda 4, the fourth instalment in the enormous successful franchise, Black recorded a version of Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time for the soundtrack with his band, Tenacious D.
While the movie isn’t even out yet, the song is already taking over the internet, racking up millions of views in a little over a week.
“I’ve created a situation where every movie I make needs to have a viral song, too,” says Black with a laugh, in Sydney to promote the release of Kung Fu Panda 4.
In the animation Black returns to the role of Po, the karate-kicking panda who must find and train his successor as the new Dragon Warrior.
Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston and Ian McShane also return to the film, while Awkwafina, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng and Viola Davis join the cast as new characters.
“I never thought we would get a fourth Panda film, so having the chance to work with such a stacked voice cast and record a Britney cover for the franchise was a no-brainer for me,” he says.
Black admits he hasn’t heard what Spears thinks of it yet, though he sent her a copy and is hopeful for a chance to perform it on stage together.
Shifu, voiced by Dustin Hoffman, left, and Po, voiced by Jack Black in a scene from Kung Fu Panda 4. Credit: Universal
“Imagine Britney and Tenacious D on the same bill – that would be insane, and the people would love it!”
While Kung Fu Panda 4 was always likely to be a hit – the franchise’s total global box office is on the verge of passing the $US2 billion ($3.05 billion) mark – covering Britney has added extra buzz to the pre-release.
“It’s part of the game now and plays right into my hands; soundtracks have never been more important,” says Black.
We are speaking in the same week that Ryan Gosling revived the Oscars with his performance of I’m Just Ken from the Barbie movie. The virality of I’m Just Ken played a big part in the Barbie hype, and it’s no stretch to suggest it feels like a move straight from the Jack Black playbook.
“I am flattered but Gosling has had that in his back pocket the whole time. Don’t forget he started off as a Mickey Mouse kid, so he was ready,” says Black.
“I am a huge fan of ‘the Gos’, and I’m Just Ken rules – it was the best part of this year’s Oscars – but he’s much more laid-back than me as a performer; I am very intense.”
Speaking of the Oscars, it’s one of the few big award bodies Black has yet to receive recognition from. He won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Metal Performance and is a three-time Golden Globe nominee, but for now the Academy remains out of reach.
“Instead, I just surround myself with Oscar winners in this film,” he says, laughing. “We have Dustin Hoffman, one of the greatest ever to strap them on, plus Ke Huy Quan and Viola Davis – maybe subconsciously I am hoping it’ll rub off on me and I can be an Oscar winner someday.”
To claim Oscars glory, perhaps Black could pull an Adam Sandler and balance out the comedy, action and family films with the occasional brooding character study.
“Firstly, Sandler was robbed by the Oscars for Uncut Gems, an incredible film, but I don’t feel that I have quite the same range as him,” says Black. “What I do have, though, is an open mind, and if something came to me that would test me, I would not hesitate to jump into that world.”
Black will return to our shores in July for a nationwide tour with Tenacious D, and it’s clear he is a fan of Australia. So much so that he is already planning to cast one of our own in Kung Fu Panda 5, should another sequel eventuate.
“One of my favourite movies of all time is The Matrix, and Hugo Weaving is a baller; he has something I like to call gravitas,” says Black. “Hugo Weaving for Kung Fu Panda 5 – you heard it here first. Plus, he was great in Lord of the Rings, where he played an elf, so he has range.”
Kung Fu Panda 4 is in cinemas on March 28
Find more of the author’s work here. Email him at thomas.mitchell@smh.com.au or follow him on Instagram at @thomasalexandermitchell and on Twitter @_thmitchell.
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