*Sequels can be a trap—too much spectacle, not enough soul. But according to Disney veterans Jared Bush and Byron Howard, Zootopia 2 isn’t just about going bigger. It’s about going deeper.
“The core of this movie is the relationship between Judy and Nick,” Bush told EUR. “We have all this fun that happens around them, tons of great emotion, this roller coaster you get to go on, but it’s always keeping their relationship front and center.”
That focus keeps the rabbit-and-fox duo grounded even as the world around them expands. New locations like Marsh Market, the historic Lynxley family estate, and the Zootennial gala bring new texture to the animal metropolis, while a decades-old mystery pulls Judy and Nick into unfamiliar territory.
Howard admits balancing all of that wasn’t easy. “We love so much of what the first movie had—characters like Mr. Big, maybe Flash shows up somewhere, you never know—but now we’ve got amazing new characters and new worlds. It’s a big ask, but the world of Zootopia was always built to expand. This one is absolutely enormous.”
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One of Bush’s favorite examples of Judy and Nick’s evolving dynamic takes place not in a chase scene but in therapy.
“Jenny (Ginnifer Goodwin) clearly wants to tell the whole class everything’s fine, that they don’t need to be there. Nick sees that she’s trying too hard, which makes him uncomfortable, and this discomfort causes him to shut down. That, of course, makes him the therapist’s target. Those tiny little mannerisms, sometimes they happen once in a recording session, and then they live in the movie forever.”
It’s that mix of humor and honesty that the directors say keeps the franchise resonant for both kids and adults.
Balancing comedy, action, and emotional beats also comes down to rhythm.
“Putting together one of these films is like writing a piece of music,” Howard explained. “It needs different movements—exciting parts, heartfelt parts, comedic parts. That’s where someone like Michael Giacchino (composer) is a great partner. The score really helps us guide the audience through those shifts.”
Bush added, “there’s a joke one group might get that another won’t. We keep those things in mind because the film has to entertain all ages, all around the world. That’s the fun part—and the challenge.”
The most surprising new face is Gary De’Snake, voiced by Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan.
“He’s 1,000 percent heart,” Bush said. “We knew we wanted the scariest looking snake imaginable, but we also wanted the sweetest voice. Every time Ke came in, he was this bundle of joy. That optimism and hope is just innately who he is, and that’s what you’ll see in Gary.”
Howard laughed, adding: “he’s a goofball too—fun, relaxed, heartfelt. And he’s great at martial arts. He was punching the air in the booth, adding sound effects, and a lot of that made it into the film.”
Nearly a decade after the original, Bush and Howard say the goal hasn’t changed: create a film that’s funny, heartfelt, and endlessly re-watchable.
“We love Nick and Judy, but we also love all these new characters,” Howard said. “The world was always built to expand, and this film lets us do that while keeping the heart intact.”
With Judy and Nick navigating new challenges and Gary De’Snake slithering into the spotlight, Zootopia 2 promises to be more than just Disney’s biggest animated film—it’s shaping up to be one of the most interesting sequels yet.
Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-bred entertainment journalist, producer, and host. Follow her socials @StilettoJill or visit JillMunroe.com. Catch her live M-F on KBLA Talk 1580 from 6PM to 7PM.
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