Jack Black explains the origins of the 'Kung Fu Panda' franchise's iconic phrase 'skadoosh,' and how it connects to 'Nacho Libre.'
ew.com
Jack Black reveals Kung Fu Panda's 'skadoosh' origins and connection to Nacho Libre
The line is said by Black's character Po in the animated film franchise, but it hails from a different iconic character in the actor's oeuvre.
By
Lauren Huff
Published on March 8, 2024
It wouldn't be
Kung Fu Panda without "skadoosh," but there may be no "skadoosh" without
Nacho Libre.
The word has become the beloved catchphrase of
Kung Fu Panda character Po, voiced by
Jack Black. But the actor says the phrase originated earlier than his time with the animated franchise, with a different iconic character of his.
"It was a good friend of mine, a fella named Jared Hess, director of a movie I did called
Nacho Libre. He reminded me, because I saw him years later," Black tells EW in the video above, explaining that he hadn't actually put it all together until he saw his old friend.
Black continues, "And I was like, 'You remember skadoosh? That was a thing I said on the set of
Nacho.' And I was like, holy cannoli, and it came back to me that that's where I came up with it. It was on the set of
Nacho Libre."
Nacho Libre came out in 2006, and the first of the
Kung Fu Panda films was released in 2008. Sequels — and the continued use of skadoosh — followed in 2011, 2016, and 2024. But, Black has Hess' blessing to keep skadooshing away. "I gotta give Jared a shoutout and a thank you, and he said, 'It's all right dude. It's yours now. Take skadoosh and run with it,'" Black recalls.
Jack Black attends the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures' 'Kung Fu Panda 4'.
ARAYA DOHENY/WIREIMAGE
The actor and Tenacious D musician is currently busy promoting the fourth entry in the
Kung Fu Panda cinematic universe, which follows Po as he seeks to find and train his successor as the new Dragon Warrior after he is chosen as the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. When an evil sorceress wants to re-summon all the master villains that Po has defeated, he must team with a fox bandit named Zhen to defeat her. In addition to Black, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane reprise their voice roles from the prior films, and series newcomers Awkwafina, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng, Lori Tan Chinn, and Viola Davis round out the cast.
Kung Fu Panda 4 is playing in theaters now. You can watch the full video below where Jack Black breaks down the
Kung Fu Panda franchise.
