Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
On November 26, Disney will release its newest animated film, Zootopia 2, nearly ten years after the original film came out. The 2016 animated film was a massive success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide, and is now one of Disney’s most successful animated films to date. Fans immediately began asking for a sequel, but it was not until 2023 that Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that Zootopia 2 was in development.
In Zootopia 2, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return as partners in the Zootopia Police Department and quickly find themselves struggling with tension in their working dynamic, prompting them to attend a therapy session with quokka therapist Dr. Fuzzby. Their fragile friendship is tested even more when a mysterious new reptile named Gary De’Snake appears in the city, stirring unrest and disrupting the peace.
Related: Disney Makes BIG ‘Zootopia 2’ Announcement 2 Months Before Film’s Premiere!
To get to the bottom of what Gary is up to, Judy and Nick must go undercover and navigate through parts of Zootopia they’ve never visited before, all while trying to reconcile their differences and reestablish trust.
Jared Bush, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, served as a writer and director on the original film and returned to write and direct its sequel.
Bush has been very active on social media, keeping fans updated on the film’s progress and sharing fun facts about making the movie, as well as what inspired Nick and Judy’s new story.
Related: ‘Zootopia 2’ Nabs Oscar-Winning Star, Comes After Pixar’s Glory
In the original film, Nick Wilde worked alongside a fennec fox named Finnick. Finnick and Nick met when they were teenagers in a juvenile detention facility. Finnick is very sly and has no issue scamming the residents of Zootopia, who believe him because his small stature makes him look so innocent.
Finnick was voiced by Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr., known for his roles in films like The Fifth Element (1997), Jackie Brown (1997), and The Dark Knight (2008). Sadly, Mr. Lister passed away in 2020 due to hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
However, Bush revealed that he had been in contact with Mr. Lister’s family, and they agreed to bring Finnick back to life for the sequel by using lines Lister had filmed for the first movie that didn’t make it into the final cut.
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. ❤️
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. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fwN7KIW6SL
— Jared Bush (@thejaredbush) September 24, 2025
Related: Surprise! Disney Unveils Massive Changes to Zootopia Land Before ‘Zootopia 2’
That is not the only big news that Bush has shared about the highly anticipated sequel.
Bush recently announced that, for the first time, the movie will have scenes inspired by Zootopia Land at Shanghai Disneyland! The new land opened in December 2023 and has so many amazing features, including two incredible attractions, a restaurant that serves stunning dishes, and multiple shopping locations.
The land also has a barbershop for sheep, which will actually be featured in the new movie!
#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
Related: Did ‘Zootopia 2’ Make a Sick Joke About Closing a Classic Disney Attraction?
Zootopia 2 will premiere in theaters nationwide on November 26, the day before Thanksgiving. Several actors from the original film returned to voice their beloved characters, including Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps, Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde, and Idris Elba as Chief Bogo.
Also starring in the film are Quinta Brunson as Dr. Fuzzby, Fortune Feimster as Nibbles, Macaulay Culkin as Cattrick Lynxley, and Ke Huy Quan as Gary De’Snake. Danny Trejo will also voice Zootopia’s first basilisk resident, Jesús.
Are you excited to learn that Finnick will be back for Zootopia 2? What character are you most looking forward to seeing on the big screen? Will you be seeing Zootopia 2 in theaters, or wait for it to come to Disney+? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
