As the release date for Zootopia 2 rapidly approaches, excitement among Disney fans continues to soar. The long-awaited sequel to the 2016 hit Zootopia, which grossed over $1 billion worldwide, promises to bring back all the magic that made the original such a fan favorite.
Following years of speculation and anticipation, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed in 2023 that a sequel was officially in development, much to the delight of fans around the world.
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With the film set to premiere on November 26, 2025, Zootopia 2 will once again follow Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they navigate the complexities of their careers and personal lives. This time, however, their already-strained partnership is further tested when a new character, Gary De'Snake, shakes things up in the city.
As tensions rise between them, Judy and Nick must go undercover to uncover the mystery surrounding this new character while working to rebuild their fractured friendship.
Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, was both a writer and director on the original Zootopia and has returned in the same roles for the sequel.
Zootopia 2 dives deeper into the complexities of the duo’s relationship, pushing them to confront their differences. As the investigation into Gary De'Snake unfolds, Judy and Nick find themselves exploring parts of Zootopia they’ve never seen before.
The movie promises to showcase even more of the animal metropolis, with stunning new locations and unexpected twists. Fans are in for an emotional rollercoaster as Judy and Nick fight to keep their professional and personal bond intact.
However, it’s not just the plot that has fans buzzing; there’s also the heartwarming news that Zootopia 2 will feature the return of a beloved character who tragically passed away.
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In the first Zootopia film, Nick Wilde teams up with Finnick, a clever fennec fox he met during their teenage years in juvenile detention. Known for his cunning nature, Finnick has no trouble pulling off scams across the city—thanks in part to his tiny size, which leads many to mistakenly see him as harmless.
Finnick’s original voice actor, Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr., passed away in 2020, but his legacy will live on in Zootopia 2. Bush shared that after speaking with Mr. Lister’s family, they gave their blessing to revive Finnick for the sequel using unused voice recordings Lister had originally recorded for the first film.
With his family’s blessing, we are so grateful to feature the voice of Tiny Lister, reprising his role as Finnick in Zootopia 2, working with recordings from the first film. Thank you to his family. Thank you, Tiny. ❤️
On top of this touching tribute, Zootopia 2 will also feature elements that tie directly into the real-world theme park, Shanghai Disneyland. Fans of the park's Zootopia Land will be excited to learn that this new area, which opened in December 2023, inspired several scenes in the upcoming sequel.
#Zootopia2 fun fact: the Zootopia Land in Shanghai added this hilarious barbershop for sheep that supplies wool for sweaters that we loved and put it into Zootopia 2. This is the first time we’ve used something built by the parks and added it into a film. Q&A begins in 24 hours!
#Zootopia2 fun fact: the Zootopia Land in Shanghai added this hilarious barbershop for sheep that supplies wool for sweaters that we loved and put it into Zootopia 2. This is the first time we’ve used something built by the parks and added it into a film. Q&A begins in 24 hours! pic.twitter.com/nYgELKtkSS
— Jared Bush (@thejaredbush) October 4, 2025
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As Zootopia 2 approaches its release date, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of familiar voices and characters, including Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps, Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde, and Idris Elba as Chief Bogo. The sequel will also introduce several new characters, including Quinta Brunson as Dr. Fuzzby, Fortune Feimster as Nibbles, Macaulay Culkin as Cattrick Lynxley, and Ke Huy Quan as Gary De'Snake.
With only a few months until its release, Zootopia 2 promises to be one of the most highly anticipated films of 2025. Be sure to mark your calendars for the November 26 release and stay tuned for more updates as we count down to the premiere!
Thrilled that Finnick is returning in Zootopia 2? Which character are you most eager to see again on the big screen? Will you catch the action in theaters or wait to stream it on Disney+? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!
