After nearly a 10-year wait, Disney’s Zootopia 2 reunites audiences with their favorite fox and bunny crime-fighting duo and introduces a host of new characters that turn the animal metropolis upside down. Through its animal-filled universe, directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore tell a story of true friendship, acceptance and belonging.
Judy and Nick are back on the case
Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) return as an even stronger team, with their partnership at the heart of the sequel. Their friendship is tested when a mysterious reptile, Gary De’Snake (voiced by Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan), slithers into Zootopia, setting off one of the city’s biggest mysteries.
“I had doubts,” Quan told Blavity’s Shadow and Act about taking on Gary De’Snake, the first reptile introduced to the Zootopia universe.
The actor feared his voice wasn’t scary enough to play the pit viper, but was reassured to learn Gary wasn’t the typical serpent. “He’s actually really friendly and goofy when you meet him. So that was a lot of fun,” he said.
New faces for the film
Another newcomer, Nibbles Maplestick (voiced by Fortune Feimster), is an eager beaver thrilled to join Wilde and Hopps on their wild adventure.
When asked whether the high-strung beaver reflected her off-screen personality, Feimster said it was a fun “combo.”
“We did a lot of stuff as written,” she said. “They came up with some amazing lines for Nibbles. And then occasionally, I’d get to throw something in there and abbreviate things.”
The comedian added, “It was just such a fun character…. what they presented me when they talked about doing this movie was already there. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m in such good hands here,’ so I just tried to bring a lot of energy. I knew I’d be that character that infuses the laughs into a film where there’s a lot going on…so, it was a dream role.”
Solving something big
Quan’s and Feimster’s characters tear through the city alongside Hopps and Wilde as they try to crack a case that could change Zootopia and the story around Gary’s family forever. Though they often stir up chaos, the new recruits learn that the success of their mission depends on friendship.
“I feel like we were really able to earn the emotional moments even more,” Goodwin said of the sequel’s narrative.
She continued, “I feel like things were a little more hidden in the first one. But there was something about it in this one. We could articulate it a lot more.”
Bateman echoed her comments about the film’s surprising emotional depth. “They toggle between not being aware, being dumb, and then being wise and being enlightened or being shut off. They’re constantly throttling it on and off throughout the movie, and how they figure it out is pretty interesting.”
Bringing the characters to life
The fast-paced animation is filled with quirky moments and nods to pop culture, including a snowy trek by shady Pawbert Lynxly (voiced by Adam Sandberg) that pays homage to Stephen King’s The Shining. Under direct orders from their chief, Wilde and Hopps also attend partner therapy led by Dr. Fuzzby, an adorable quokka voiced by Quinta Brunson.
“Honestly, the animators for our movie…it’s so incredible,” Quan said, praising their ability to give his character expressive detail, including hand-like gestures and fluid body movements.
Feimster recalled being blown away during her first screening, seeing how the animators captured her own enthusiasm in Nibbles’ energetic movements. Goodwin added that the animation team often incorporated subtle features from the actors into their characters, sometimes even joining them in the booth to study their expressions and personalize the performances.
The filmmakers lean into themes of empathy, inclusion, and belonging while expanding Zootopia’s world in every direction.
“It made me even more proud to be a part of a film that had that kind of theme and messages that people of all ages can take away something positive from,” Feimster said. She continued, “The first one is great, but somehow they’re able to make the second one funnier, more clever, even more entertaining on a much, much bigger scope with a bigger heart.”
Zootopia 2 is in theaters now. Watch our full cast interview with Bateman, Goodwin, Quan and Feimster below: