It took almost a decade for Zootopia 2 to lastly make its technique to the massive display screen, and it quietly made Disney historical past with one among its largest parts. Regardless of the primary movie garnering over $1 billion on the field workplace, it wasn’t till early 2023 that the animated sequel lastly kicked off lively growth, with administrators Jared Bush, who additionally wrote the movie, and Byron Howard returning to the helm.
Upon releasing over the Thanksgiving weekend, Zootopia 2 has already been constructing towards breaking a number of information, starting with its Rotten Tomatoes crucial rating being the closest a Disney Animation sequel has come to the unique movie’s success since Ralph Breaks the Web surpassed its predecessor seven years in the past. Moreover, the sequel has already grossed over $81 million worldwide, passing the primary movie’s $75.1 million opening.
Now, in an interview with ScreenRant‘s Ash Crossan for the sequel’s launch, administrators Jared Bush and Byron Howard, and producer Yvett Merino revealed how Zootopia 2 broke a significant Disney file with its star-studded forged. Along with such returning faces as Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin and Idris Elba, the sequel has expanded its roster with over 50 franchise newcomers, starting from Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan to Emmy winner Quinta Brunson and Grammy winner Ed Sheeran, amongst many others.
In reflecting on constructing their new ensemble forged, Howard revealed Zootopia 2‘s forged has made Disney historical past with “the most important voice forged” within the studio’s historical past, tallying to round 70 “talking roles.” Retaining mum about among the unrevealed names, Howard teased that “the cameos are loopy” within the sequel, whereas Bush went on to level out the film provided the chance to reunite with “associates of ours“:
Jared Bush: Truthfully, it was a lot enjoyable as a result of so many individuals on this film are associates of ours. We received to crew up once more with associates of ours from Encanto. We received to crew up with associates of ours from Moana. We received to crew up with Anika Noni Rose, coming in from Tiana. It’s simply unbelievable. It is a humiliation of riches, and having the ability to spend time with these folks that we love a lot was a pleasure.
Zootopia 2’s Scorching Horse Mayor Had An Attention-grabbing Journey To The Display
ScreenRant: On condition that y’all have labored on a few of my favourite Disney movies, did you cover any references on this one?
Byron Howard: There are a million references. Yvett and I teamed up on Tangled, and Rapunzel’s frying pan makes not only one, however two appearances. We by no means threw something away as a result of why construct a brand new one? That makes a vital look. However one of many issues that we love about these motion pictures is that they’re so dense, and we now have such a humorous, sneaky crew. They’ve all types of references that they’ve hidden within the movie that we do not even find out about. We’re studying about them now. We now have our favorites, however you inform us.
ScreenRant: I feel the most effective experiences concerning the premiere was that you’d hear the children crack up, after which two seconds later, all of the adults. There’s one thing for everybody.
Byron Howard: I’ve missed that about stay audiences a lot. The COVID factor was actually robust as a result of these motion pictures are about getting collectively and being with a bunch of strangers in the dead of night, and listening to the gasps and the tears and the laughs. So, that premiere was actually therapeutic for me.
ScreenRant: It has been almost a decade for the reason that final movie, and I really feel like these characters are in every single place. They’re so beloved. What has that meant to you three?
Jared Bush: It means the world. Our motion pictures take about 5 years to make. For many of that 5 years, you are simply along with your crew inside a constructing. Nobody else is experiencing these characters of this world, and also you hope that what you are constructing collectively [works]. As a result of internally we adore it, however you do not know if that is going to resonate. When it does, it means a lot as a result of 700 individuals pour their hearts into any one among these tales. While you’re watching these motion pictures, it is hyper collaborative. The perfect concept all the time wins as you are shifting by it. To have individuals relate to those characters, or to have these tales resonate, it is a dream that you just hope can occur. However till it goes out into the world, you do not know.
ScreenRant: I’ve to say, I’ve a bit little bit of a bone to choose. You guys gave me a very scorching ass horse. Is he based mostly on Fabio?
Byron Howard: I’d say this can be a good instance of how not all nice concepts in these movies come from us. That is an concept that Ami Thompson, one among our designers, had. We had been attempting to determine who must be the mayor of the city, since we wanted to fill that hole. She mentioned, “What a couple of horse?”
Jared Bush: We’re like, “There’s all these different animals. Are you positive a couple of horse?”
Byron Howard: “Why a horse?” And he or she’s like, “What about this horse?” And it is a scorching horse who had a profession as a ’90s motion star and has now change into a politician. It is like, “Okay, you win.” Then, in fact, once we had been speaking a couple of voice for that horse, just one title got here out: Patrick Warburton. We known as Patrick up, and Patrick mentioned that he teared up once we requested him to do that. We had been so completely happy that he mentioned sure as a result of it was meant to be. The universe has converged to make this scorching horse mayor.
ScreenRant: Given that everybody was on this film, who would you like to see within the third film? Which I imagine is occurring.
Jared Bush: A brand new character coming in? Oh, man. Effectively, I will let you know what my son’s is as a result of he talks to me about it on a regular basis. He needs it to be Keanu Reeves enjoying his character from John Wick, named the Baba Llama. Keanu, let’s go.
Yvett Merino: I actually do love a superb kangaroo. I feel we will get a kangaroo in there someplace.
Byron Howard: We have talked about Australian animals. There’s been one thing within the air, and an space that we have wished to discover is Outback Island. We talked about it briefly on this movie, however we now have drawings from 14 years in the past for Outback Island. So, you by no means know what may floor. It was an awesome deal with to have Robert Irwin on this film. He makes an incredible cameo, so that you by no means know.
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Zootopia 2 is now in theaters!
- Launch Date
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November 26, 2025
- Director
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Byron Howard, Jared Bush
- Writers
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Jared Bush
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Ginnifer Goodwin
Judy Hopps (voice)
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Jason Bateman
Nick Wilde (voice)