Hopps and Wilde are back. And they may actually be better than ever.
In Zootopia 2, we once again meet the now-famous Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde (Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman) as they hop onboard the police force as rookie cops. As the two are trying to make it as police officers, they are struggling to prove that they have what it takes. However, when the arrival of Gary De-Snake (Ke Huy Quan) throws Zootopia into chaos, Hopps and Wilde must go undercover to crack the case and unravel a mystery that harkens back to the very origins of the city itself.
Co-directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, Zootopia 2 lives up to the legacy of its Oscar-winning predecessor. Whip-smart and furry-ously funny, the return of Hopps and Wilde makes for yet another truly remarkable venture into the complexities of the animal kingdom (and, by extension, our world as well).
[L-R] Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) and Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia 2.” From the Oscar®-winning team of Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush and Byron Howard (directors) and Yvett Merino (producer), “Zootopia 2” opens in theaters Nov. 26. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Beyond returning stars Goodwin, Bateman and Elba, Zootopia 2 has a ridiculous wealth of riches when it comes to its cast. Appearances by Shakira, Quinta Brunson, Patrick Warburton, Fortune Feimster, and Danny Treyo all contribute meaningful work. Yet that’s just the tip of the Zootopian iceberg. Jean Reno, Wilmer Valderrama, John Leguizamo, Michael J. Fox, Dwayne Johnson, Peter Mansbridge, CM Punk, Stephanie Beatriz, Disney CEO Bob Iger and many, many more all contribute voice work that range from small but important roles to grunts and screams in the background. (In fact, on Wikipedia, the cast list extends to a whopping 54 performers with speaking roles.)
Even so, that simply adds to the world they’ve created. These aren’t all stars fighting for screen time. Here, every single character, no matter how small in role or size, is a part of Zootopia 2’s living, breathing ecosystem. Simply put, there’s a depth and scope to this world that remains remarkably vibrant.
[L-R] Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman), and the Bearoness (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown) in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia 2.” From the Oscar®-winning team of Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush and Byron Howard (directors) and Yvett Merino (producer), “Zootopia 2” opens in theaters Nov. 26. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
With this in mind, of all of Disney’s animated landscapes, it’s quite possible that Zootopia’s visuals offer their most expansive and detailed worlds. Everything here simply feels… alive. New environments like the Marsh Market are stunning in their detail while more familiar spaces continue to find new places in which to play. However, these are more than simply different ecological areas. They’re active and immersive spaces that are teeming with life. Characters are bustling to work while vehicles are caught in traffic. Others are moving freely about the space, simply going about their daily lives. These are active cityscapes where everyone is on the move.
And the animation team uses this to their full advantage, fueling the screen with jokes that aren’t even addressed directly. Posters parody everything, ranging from popular products to Disney’s own properties. As a result, just like the first film, Zootopia 2 benefits from multiple viewings just so you can catch the gags in the background. (For example, there’s even a nod to Air Canada that can only be found if you’re watching carefully.)
Squeal of Fortune Mouse (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia 2.” From the Oscar®-winning team of Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush and Byron Howard (directors) and Yvett Merino (producer), “Zootopia 2” opens in theaters Nov. 26. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In short, half the fun of visiting Zootopia is simply enjoying the view.
But the beating heart of the film remains its deeper conversations. Whereas the first entry tried to speak to the ways that our differences divide us, the sequel taps into a very different vibe. Throughout Zootopia 2, characters try to create their new world with the reminder that ‘we’re all the same underneath’. Different animals try to ignore the unique traits that define them in the spirit of ‘unity’. But here, the film acknowledges that, maybe, our differences are not only necessary.
They’re essential.
[L-R] Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) and Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia 2.” From the Oscar®-winning team of Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush and Byron Howard (directors) and Yvett Merino (producer), “Zootopia 2” opens in theaters Nov. 26. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
After all, there are clearly differences between bunnies, snakes and lynx. Every one of them has different needs, which is why they need different environments in the first place. Pretending that they’re all somehow the same feels like another type of limitation in Zootopia. But these differences aren’t limitations. They’re part of these animals’ culture and heritage.
In this way, Zootopia 2 actually improves on the messaging of the first film by highlighting the value in honouring each other for who they are. Yes, the nation of Zootopia wants everyone to be treated equally. But that doesn’t mean they are the same.
And that’s well worth celebrating.
So, welcome back to Zootopia. This wild and woolly world is well worth the return trip.
Zootopia 2 is available in theatres on Wednesday, November 26th, 2025.
Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
