Zootopia 2 Movie Preview
All you need to know about the return of Nick, Judy & Flash!
Nick and Judy are finally back for a new adventure! The big announcement of "Zootopia 2" was made in early 2023, and the theatrical release awaits us in 2025 - a full 9 years after part one! With this article we bring you up to date on the fantastic sequel to the big Disney hit!
What Has Happened Thus Far
At the time, "Zootopia" was a huge success: the setting is a huge city populated by animals. The main characters of the story: Judy Hopps, an ambitious rabbit lady determined to fulfill her dream of becoming a police officer; and Nick Wilde, a cunning fox with a penchant for shady dealings. The odd pair clash by chance and together uncover a sinister plot by the assistant mayor to turn innocent animals into savage beasts. During their investigation, Judy and Nick not only overcome their prejudices, but also form an unexpected friendship. The movie deals with serious topics such as mistrust and cooperation between different groups, while at the same time being incredibly funny and really making the most out of the animal setting. The iconic teaser trailer with the sloth Flash alone is likely to have drawn countless people to the movie theaters.
Plot
At this year's Disney D23 event, the first details about the story of the sequel got revealed. As you can imagine, there is a lot of police work for the two heroes once again. The film's plot is set just shortly after the conclusion of the first part. This means that although the two have cracked their first big case, they still have to prove themselves - especially Nick, as he has previously attracted attention more as a trickster than as an honest policeman. In "Zootopia 2", the two will get to know a whole new aspect of police work, as they have to go undercover.
The sequel will offer further insights into the animal metropolis and the relationships between the different animal species. At least one new character is already known: Gary the snake. He will definitely get a bigger role in the movie. In a post on X, director Jared Bush explicitly differentiated between mammals and reptiles. Since then, fan theories have been circulating as to whether we might even get to see a whole new city populated exclusively by cold-blooded creatures.
Are Nick and Judy a Couple?
A somewhat delicate question has been on the minds of viewers since the first "Zootopia" film: is there perhaps more between Nick and Judy than just friendship? On the one hand, the story fulfills the typical cliché of a Hollywood romance: the stubborn couple who discover their affection for each other through an adventure. On the other hand, the two belong to completely opposite animal species. The rumors were further fueled at this year's D23, when the director said that Judy and Nick still have a lot to figure out about themselves and their relationship. We probably won't find out anything concrete until the movie - either way, the unlikely couple is sure to provoke some discussion.
Production
"Zootopia" grossed over one billion US dollars at the box office in 2016 and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Many were therefore surprised that it took seven years for Disney to announce a sequel. In the meantime, the mini-series "Zootopia+" was released on Disney+ in November 2022. This six-part short film series provided new adventures in the city of animals and proved that viewers are still interested in more stories from Zootopia.
The original voice actors Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin will once again provide Nick and Judy with their unmistakable voices. The snake Gary will be dubbed by Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan.
The director Jared Bush has also written the screenplay for the sequel. That is definitely a positive sign: He had the same job on the predecessor and the successful movie "Encanto", for example.
We now also know when the movie will be released: The theatrical release date for "Zootopia 2" has been set for November 26, 2025, but we are still hoping that we'll get to see at least a first short teaser trailer before the end of the year. Another scene like the legendary Flash moment from part 1 would definitely put a smile on our faces!