Disney’s Best Animated Movie Is Finally Getting A Sequel
Disney has announced that Zootopia 2 is now in the works.
We’ve got some good news for fans of the 2016 animated feature Zootopia. According to Deadline, Disney CEO, Bob Iger, recently revealed during the company’s Q1 earnings call that Zootopia 2 is officially in the works. The original movie, which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Film, earned over $1 billion at the worldwide box office upon its release.
In addition to Zootopia 2, Iger confirmed that Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5 are also in the works. The Disney CEO was beyond thrilled to announce that some of their animation studios’ most popular franchises would continue with new installments. He said, “This is a great example of how we’re leaning into our unrivaled brands and franchises.”
To say Disney’s original films of late haven’t performed well would be an understatement. Just recently, Strange World opened to a measly $12 million and concluded its theatrical run with just over $73 million. With an estimated budget between $135 and $180 million, the animated flick was a major flop for the studio.
Encanto also had a disappointing box office performance when it was released back in 2021, with a global total of $256 million off a budget of $150 million. With that said, it should come as no surprise Disney has opted to revisit some of their most successful franchises. Along with Zootopia, Frozen 2 and Toy Story 4 also grossed over $1 billion at the global box office.
Of course, not much is known about Zootopia 2 or any of the other productions at this time. Iger did state, however, that the company would be sharing details about the three sequels in the near future. Right now, it seems like Disney’s newly implemented cost-saving measures are taking precedence over pretty much everything else, which includes the company’s recent cutting of nearly 7,000 jobs.
Although seven years have passed since the release of Zootopia, fans have clamored for a sequel. In addition to being a massive financial success, the first film was a big hit with critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the animated movie has a score of 98 percent from critics off 298 reviews and a score of 92 percent from everyday viewers.
Per IMDB, the recently announced sequel is being called Zootopia 2: Rise of the Non-Mammalians. Whether that turns out to be the actual title for the long-awaited follow-up remains to be seen. The site also lists the movie as coming to theaters on November 17, 2024, but again, Disney has yet to confirm anything beyond its announcement that a sequel is in development.
Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush, Zootopia takes place in a mammal metropolis where various animals live and thrive. When Judy Hopps becomes the first rabbit to join the police force, she quickly learns how tough it is to enforce the law. To make matters worse, she is forced to work with a wiley fox to uncover a conspiracy.
The animated hit features an ensemble cast consisting of Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, J.K. Simmons, Bonnie Hunt, Octavia Spencer, Shakira, Alan Tudyk, and Nate Torrence. Although details surrounding the cast of Zootopia 2 are non-existent, it’s probably safe to say that will see several actors reprise their roles from the first film.
While we wait for more information about the sequel to come to light, you can revisit Zootopia on Disney+.
