‘Zootopia 2’: Ke Huy Quan Joins Cast, First Sequel Footage Reveals New Animals

Walt Disney Animation Studios has excited audiences by teasing the first footage of “Zootopia 2,” the eagerly anticipated sequel to its 2016 hit. Ginnifer Goodwin greeted fans at D23 with an enthusiastic proclamation, “the bunny is back!”

Goodwin, who voices the lovable police bunny Judy Hopps, expressed her sentiment, stating, “‘Zootopia’ is my happy place, and I am so ready for the world to see this crazy new adventure.” The sequel promises to bring back beloved characters from the original film, including Mr. Big, Claw Hauser, and Flash the Sloth, along with an array of new animals.

One of the exciting new characters is a reptile named Gary, played by Disney alum Ke Huy Quan, known for his roles in “Loki” and “Indiana Jones.” Gary is a “creepy, slithery, highly venomous viper” and will play a significant role in Nick and Judy’s new case, continuing their roles as animal cops. Notably, Gary represents the first reptile to appear in the Zootopia world.

An exclusive clip shown at D23 featured Nick and Judy searching for Gary in Marsh Market, home to various semi-aquatic animals. The Marsh showcased a variety of amusing scenes with animals, including hippos getting tattoos, hippos riding waterslides, seals eating algae, and a plumber sea lion.

Byron Howard and Rich Moore will return as directors for the sequel, with Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin reprising their roles as Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps. According to an official logline, “Zootopia 2” will follow “brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, as they team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.”

The original “Zootopia” film made an impressive debut, opening to $75 million at the domestic box office in 2016, marking the largest opening for any of Disney’s non-Pixar animated films at the time. The film grossed $341 million domestically and nearly doubled that figure internationally, achieving a worldwide gross of over $1 billion. This success made it the third highest-grossing animated Disney film of all time, following “Frozen” and “Frozen II.”

In 2022, Disney+ released “Zootopia+,” an anthology miniseries composed of seven-minute shorts featuring side characters from the “Zootopia” universe. The series was directed and written by Disney animator Trent Corry and Disney storyboard artist Josie Trinidad.

Jared Bush, co-director of “Zootopia,” penned the script for the sequel, with Jennifer Lee and Yvett Merino serving as producers. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on November 26, 2025.

Source: Collider, The Hollywood Reporter