Zootopia 2 Breaks Disney Record With Biggest Voice Cast In History

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After almost ten years, Zootopia 2 finally arrived in theaters and quietly achieved a significant milestone for Disney. Although the original Zootopia earned over $1 billion worldwide, development on the sequel didn’t begin in earnest until early 2023. Directors Jared Bush, who also wrote the film, and Byron Howard returned to direct the animated follow-up.

Released over Thanksgiving weekend, Zootopia 2 is on track to break several records. Critics have given it a very high score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the most successful Disney Animation sequel since Ralph Breaks the Internet exceeded the performance of its original film seven years ago. The film has also earned over $81 million globally, surpassing the $75.1 million opening weekend of the first Zootopia movie.

Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, and producer Yvett Merino recently told ScreenRant how Zootopia 2 achieved a new Disney record with its impressive cast. While Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Idris Elba returned, the sequel also welcomed over 50 new actors to the franchise, including Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan, Emmy winner Quinta Brunson, and Grammy winner Ed Sheeran, among many other talented performers.

Howard recently shared that Zootopia 2 features Disney’s largest voice cast ever, with around 70 characters having speaking roles. While keeping some cast members a secret, Howard hinted at some surprising cameos. Bush added that making the film allowed them to work with many familiar faces and colleagues.

Working on this movie was a real pleasure because so many of the cast and crew were people we already knew and liked. We were thrilled to collaborate with friends from both Encanto and Moana, and having Anika Noni Rose join us from The Princess and the Frog was amazing. It felt like we had an incredible group of talented and supportive people around us, and spending time with them was a true joy.

Zootopia 2’s Hot Horse Mayor Had An Interesting Journey To The Screen

ScreenRant asked the filmmakers, knowing they’d worked on many beloved Disney movies, if they included any hidden nods or references in this new film.

There are countless details and hidden connections in our films! Yvett and I worked together on ‘Tangled,’ and we brought back Rapunzel’s frying pan – it actually shows up twice! We reuse elements whenever possible, so it’s a significant detail. What’s really fun is that our incredibly clever team loves to sneak in all sorts of references that even we don’t discover until later. We’re still finding them now, and we have our own favorites, but we want to hear what you spot!

One of the most enjoyable parts of the premiere was seeing how both kids and adults laughed at different moments – the movie clearly appeals to all ages and has something for everyone to enjoy.

I really missed having a live audience. The pandemic was hard because our movies are meant to be experienced with others – sharing laughter, tears, and those collective gasps in a dark theater. That premiere felt incredibly healing for me.

It’s been almost ten years since the last movie came out, and the characters are still really popular. How has it felt to see them remain so beloved by fans?

It’s incredibly rewarding. Our films take around five years to create, and for most of that time, it’s just our team working together, hoping the story and characters will connect with audiences. We love what we’re making internally, but you never know if others will feel the same way. When they do, it means a lot, because about 700 people put their hearts and souls into each film. The process is very collaborative – we always go with the best idea, no matter where it comes from. To have people connect with the characters and stories is a dream come true, but you don’t know if it will happen until the movie is released.

Okay, so let me tell you, this movie… it gave me a seriously strange visual. There’s this one character, a horse, and honestly, it’s… strikingly attractive. Like, ridiculously so. It immediately made me wonder if the filmmakers were channeling their inner Fabio. It was a bit much, to say the least!

I think this really shows that good ideas for these films don’t always come from the directors or writers. Our designer, Ami Thompson, actually came up with this one. We were trying to decide who should be the town’s mayor, and she suggested, ‘Why not a horse?’

Jared Bush: We’re like, “There’s all these other animals. Are you sure about a horse?”

When we started brainstorming, Byron Howard asked why we chose a horse for the character. The creator then presented the idea of a charismatic horse who was a former action movie star turned politician, and it was a brilliant concept! Immediately, Patrick Warburton was the only voice we could imagine for the role. He was so excited by the idea that he said it actually made him cry, and we were thrilled he accepted. It felt like fate – everything aligned to make this charming horse a mayor.

ScreenRant asked, with so many actors appearing in the film, who we’d like to see return for the anticipated third movie.

Jared Bush mentioned the possibility of a new character and shared what his son wants: Keanu Reeves playing a character inspired by John Wick, but as a llama – he calls him the Baba Llama! He’s really hoping it happens.

Yvett Merino: I really do love a good kangaroo. I think we can get a kangaroo in there somewhere.

We’ve been discussing Australian animals, and for a long time, we’ve been interested in developing the idea of ‘Outback Island.’ We actually have concept art for it dating back 14 years, so it’s something that could definitely appear in a future film. Having Robert Irwin make a cameo in this movie was fantastic, and you never know what else might happen!

Be sure to dive into some of our other Zootopia 2 coverage with:

  • Our Zootopia 2 Review
  • Bateman, Goodwin & Byron Howard weighing in on WildeHopps shipping
  • Ke Huy Quan & Fortune Feimster talk joining the sequel and Tom Hiddleston’s perfect potential character
  • Bateman & Goodwin talking about the secrecy behind the Zootopia franchise
  • Our projection for when the movie will premiere on Disney+
  • Our guide for parents on Zootopia 2‘s content
  • A guide on Zootopia 2‘s ending
  • A guide on how the sequel’s post-credits scene sets up Zootopia 3

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2025-11-28 21:02