Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are coming back! If, like us, you’ve been excited to see our fluffy buddy-cop pals return, you’ll be glad to hear a Zootopia 2 release date will eventually come down the pipeline.
Zootopia is one of Disney’s best movies from recent years. The animated story ticked all the boxes: it was a critical, commercial, and awards season success. So, it’s no surprise there’s a sequel to one of the best Disney movies of the modern era. Read on to find out more!
Zootopia 2 release date speculation
Zootopia 2 could be released by late 2026. It’s in active development, so if things go well, it should be able to come out by then.
The first of what could end up being a few new movies was greenlit in February 2023, which is good news, but it also means it could be a while until we see it. The 2023 Writers Strike and Actors Strike may also have slowed development down.
As such, Zootopia 2’s potential late 2026 release feels like a reasonable guess. That’ll make it 10 years after the original, but we don’t really want to think about that.
With the animated series Zootopia+ hitting Disney Plus back in November 2022 and the new Hot Pursuit ride at Zootopia land (which you can see concept art for below) at Shanghai Disney, things have started ramping up, at least.
Zootopia 2 cast speculation
We expect all the main players from the first movie will come back for Zootopia 2, with Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, and Idris Elba likely returning.
We may see also Shakira return as the popstar Gazelle and Maurice LaMarche back as Mr. Big. We’re still waiting for confirmed details, such as who will be the next Disney villain.
Here’s the expected Zootopia 2 cast list:
- Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps
- Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde
- Jenny Slate as Dawn Bellwether
- Idris Elba as Chief Bogo
- Nate Torrence as Benjamin Clawhauser
- Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps
- Don Lake as Stu Hopps
- Tommy Chong as Yax
- J. K. Simmons as Mayor Lionheart
- Octavia Spencer as Mrs Otterton
- Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton
- Shakira as Gazelle
- Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big
What will Zootopia 2 be about?
Zootopia 2 will likely continue to follow Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde’s next mystery as partners on the police force, with a new baddie to boot.
The plot will probably focus on the pair being assigned another case to unravel and could feature a new villain related to their assignment or the return of Mayor Lionheart and Bellwether. Alternatively, Zootopia 2 could also follow up on one of the storylines from Zootopia+.
And for all you shippers out there, sorry, but nothing has been confirmed about a potential romance between Judy and Nick yet.
Zootopia 2 trailer speculation
Early 2026 is probably the soonest we can expect Zootopia 2’s first trailer.
We’ll have a clearer idea of when trailers might come out once a release date is announced.
For now, here’s the trailer for the TV series based on the movie, if you’ve not watched it. And you can always revisit some of the other best animated movies on Disney Plus, too.
Where can I watch Zootopia 2?
We imagine Zootopia 2 will get a theatrical release before arriving on Disney Plus later.
Given the success of the first film, it’s likely Disney would want a sequel in cinemas for at least 45 days before putting it on streaming. Judging from recent releases such as Elemental and the live-action The Little Mermaid, it’s likely that the cinema run will be exclusive, followed by a streaming release a few months later.
For more on the latter, check out how to watch The Little Mermaid.
No matter the fate of Zootopia 2, the 2020s have been rich with fun animated stories. So, why not check out our guide on the best Disney Plus shows right now? We have also ranked all the Disney Princesses and have information on the Frozen 3 release date and Toy Story 5 as well.
Finally, here’s everything new on Disney Plus this year and the best Frozen characters. We also have an Elemental review to convince you it’s worth seeking out.