Nearly a decade has passed since Zootopia became one of Disney’s most cherished modern hits. Now, with Zootopia 2 released, we take a quick look at the Zootopia 2 voice cast.
The film won over global audiences with sharp storytelling, rich world-building, and the heartfelt bond between Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Its box office success, which passed one billion dollars, helped cement the franchise as a vital part of Disney Animation. Fans praised its humour and its profound emotional depth.
Now, excitement is growing as Zootopia 2 (also known as Zootropolis 2) moves closer to release. Early industry projections suggest a strong Thanksgiving debut for the sequel. Disney continues to guard the plot, which has increased curiosity amongst longtime fans. The project has developed quietly for years under the creative leadership of Byron Howard and Rich Moore. Their ongoing interest in the world of Zootopia has guided the sequel’s direction and tone.
The sequel’s arrival supports cinemas whilst delivering a highly anticipated return to a beloved animated universe. Zootopia 2 promises new adventures, deeper themes, and bold expansions of the bustling animal metropolis. Fans can expect detailed environments, engaging mysteries, and emotional character voices that enrich the original film. The sequel aims to deepen the lore whilst showcasing new district and cultural layers of the city.
Now is the ideal time to take a closer look at the Zootopia 2 voice cast that brings the sequel to life.
Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman)
Jason Bateman returns as the sly-yet-warm-hearted fox Nick Wilde, whose journey from small-time hustler to fully fledged ZPD officer was one of the most memorable arcs of the first Zootopia. After proving both his integrity and his talent for thinking several steps ahead, Nick ended the original film proudly beside Judy Hopps – no longer an outsider, but an equal partner.
In Zootopia 2, Bateman once again brings his signature humour and effortless charm to the role. Whilst the story’s details remain under wraps, audiences can expect Nick’s sharp instincts, street-level savvy, and trademark sarcasm to play a key part in whatever challenges the duo may face next. His newfound sense of purpose, paired with a past shaped by prejudice and survival, leaves plenty of room for the character to confront new moral dilemmas, unexpected responsibilities, or even unresolved pieces of his old life – all without losing the playful unpredictability that made him an instant fan favourite.
Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin)
Ginnifer Goodwin, once again, imbues warmth, grit, and relentless optimism to Judy Hopps, the rabbit who shattered ZBD expectations in the first Zootopia. After exposing a citywide conspiracy and proving that a small officer can make a big impact, Judy enters the next chapter of her career with more confidence – but also with the weight of experience. She’s no longer the wide-eyed rookie who first stepped off the train; she’s also a cop who has seen how quickly the harmony of Zootopia can fracture.
In Zootopia 2, Judy’s values and quick thinking are set to collide with pressures both inside and outside the force. With new corners of the city to navigate and alliances that aren’t as clear cut as she’d like, her natural determination may bring her closer to uncomfortable truths about how Zootopia treats its less-understood residents. Goodwin’s performance continues to highlight Judy’s greatest strength – her ability to stay hopeful even when the path forward isn’t. It’s that mix of courage and vulnerability that makes her journey – and her partnership with Nick – one of the emotional anchors of the series.
Chief Bogo (Idris Elba)
Zootopia’s steadfast pillar of order, Chief Bogo, returns to duty. He is once again voiced by the commanding British actor Idris Elba, whose gravitas and dry humour mirror his no-nonsense leadership. After guiding the ZPD (Zootopia Police Department) through the chaos of the Night Howler crisis, Bogo’s reputation as tough but fair commander has only grown stronger.
Yet Zootopia is changing, and so are the pressures on its police force. As new uncertainties test the city’s unity, expect Bogo to find himself navigating challenges that demand more than sheer authority.
His ironclad resolve, dry wit, and growing understanding of the community he serves will push him into moments that reveal depths audiences have yet to see. Even his most loyal officers may be surprised by where his leadership leads next. Zootopia 2 voice cast.
Gazelle (Shakira)
Zootopia’s beloved megastar Gazelle returns to the spotlight – still voiced by Colombian singer and actress Shakira, whose own dynamic performances and artistic versatility echo the character’s spirit. Known throughout the city for her compassion and unwavering sense of justice, Gazelle has long used her music to champion unity between predator and prey.
Now, as Zootopia stands on the brink of new challenges, Gazelle’s influence is stronger than ever. Her powerful voice and bold choreography – performed alongside her dance troupe – continue to symbolise her fearlessness advocacy for harmony in a world that doesn’t always agree with her message.
In Zootopia 2, expect Gazelle to step beyond the stage. Her convictions, charisma, and growing role in the city’s evolving story promise revelations that will surprise even her most devoted fans. Zootopia 2 voice cast.
Dawn Bellwether (Jenny Slate)
Jenny Slate returns as the soft-spoken, yet razor-sharp Assistant Mayor Dawn Bellwether, whose seemingly meek exterior famously concealed the mastermind behind the predator-targeting conspiracy that shook Zootopia in the first film. After her arrest and exposure, Bellwether remains one of the city’s most cunning – and most controversial – figures.
With Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde now navigating a case that threatens to destabilise Zootopia once again, Bellwether’s legacy hangs over their investigation. Her intimate understanding of political manipulation, public fear, and the mechanics of citywide unrest makes her a figure whose knowledge could be as dangerous as it is valuable.
Whether she remains behind bars or is merely a shadow lingering over the city’s darkest corners, Bellwether’s presence raises a tantalising question: when Zootopia faces new threats, will its most infamous strategist stay silent – or find a way to make herself heard again? Either way, it’s fantastic to see her reappearing in the Zootopia 2 voice cast.
Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan)
Vietnamese-American actor Ke Huy Quan slithers into the Zootopia universe as the tritagonist Gary De’Snake, an unusually vibrant, blue-scaled pit viper whose sudden arrival throws the city’s delicate mammal-reptile balance into chaos. Standing (or rather, stretching) at over 33 feet long and equipped a single fang, Gary cuts an imposing figure, yet his personality is anything but. He’s talkative, nervously energetic, surprisingly optimistic, and genuinely friendly. His presence marks a historic moment for the franchise as the first reptile introduced to Zootopia’s world.
Much like Quan himself – whose spirited 2023 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert reportedly inspired the filmmakers to cast him – Gary blends jittery charm with heartfelt sincerity. Where the first film explored prejudice amongst mammals, Gary’s mixture of nervous tendencies, unexpected optimism, and his refusal to fit the usual “snake stereotype” promises a character who both disrupts and enriches the metropolis. Quan’s performance, peppered with homages to classic Disney serpents, captures Gary as a reptile who might be dangerous by nature – but is determined to be defined by something more.
Duke Weaselton (Alan Tudyk)
American actor Alan Tudyk once again lends his unmistakeable voice to Duke Weaselton, the sly, small-time crook whose schemes caused more chaos than cash in the first Zootopia. Tudyk returns to the second film, bringing his signature comedic sharpness to Zootopia’s most skittish hunter.
Duke Weaselton’s past antics – from peddling bootleg films to running Judy Hopps at the first sign of accountability – cemented him as one of the metropolis’s most persistent (if not utterly inept) opportunists. Motivated by greed but undone by cowardice, he’s the kind of criminal who talks big until things get real, and then leaves nothing but dust clouds for Judy and Nick to chase.
With deeper tensions amongst Zootopia’s reptilian communities, Weaselton’s presence adds a familiar wildcard to a city already on edge. Whether he’s scrambling to stay out of trouble or stumbling into new schemes, Duke’s return promises a blend of comedic relief and unpredictable complication – all without giving away where his path might cross with the unfolding conspiracy.
Mr. Big (Maurice LaMarche)
Returning to Zootopia’s bustling underworld is the tiny titan of the town himself: Mr. Big. Once again voiced with icy elegance is by the Canadian voice actor Maurice LaMarche. The impeccably dressed crime boss brings his signature blend of gentility and quiet menace back to the city’s shifting political landscape.
In the first film, Mr. Big’s fearsome reputation – balanced by a surprising sense of humour and family loyalty – made him one of Zootopia’s most unforgettable figures. From nearly “ice-ing” Nick and Judy for interrupting his daughter’s wedding to later becoming an unexpected ally, Mr. Big proved that even the smallest mammal can cast a very long shadow.
Now, with fractures forming across Zootopia’s communities, his return adds a layer of gravitas – and unpredictability – to the tensions brewing beneath the surface. Whether dispensing cold justice from his tiny throne to offering aid when it best serves his family’s interests, Mr. Big’s presence promises a potent mix of threat and humour. And whilst his motives remain wrapped in fur-line mystery, one thing is certain: when Mr. Big speaks, the whole city listens.
Jesús (Danny Trejo)
A vibrant new face in Zootopia 2, Jesús brings a dash of desert swagger and reptilian charm to the city’s ever-growing smorgasbord of species. A basilisk with a flair for the dramatic, his very name cheekily nods the ‘Jesus Christ Lizard’ famed for sprinting across water – and Jesús proves just as quick when it comes to navigating trouble, secrets, and the odd stolen book.
Voiced by Mexican-American actor Danny Trejo, and clad in his fringed jacket, patterned slacks and a cowboy hat big enough to cast its own shadow, Jesús fills the screen with a warm, easy-going confidence. There’s a striking frontier mystique about him – part laid-back wanderer, part desert sage – the kind of lizard who’s seen more than he lets on and knows exactly when to share it. Jesús promises to be a scene-stealing reminder than in Zootopia, even the most unlikely residents have something vital to contribute – and that reptiles aren’t that different after all.
Ed Shearin (Ed Sheeran)
Ed Shearin enters Zootopia 2 as a beige sheep whose attempts to get sculpted abs at Baa Baa’s barbershop goes wildly off the rails when Judy and Nick crash into the building, sending a wave of discarded wool – and an off-balance barber – straight into his makeover. The result is his accidental ‘bra-and-tutu’ chest fluff, which he proudly deems as beautiful, leaning fully into the playful pun of his name and its nod to its voice actor, British singer and actor Ed Sheeran.
New to the city’s unfolding tensions, Ed Shearin brings a burst of earnest, slightly bewildered charm – part comedic relief, part inspired parody – and a reminder that even in Zootopia’s chaos, some citizens manage to turn mishaps into style moments. He emerges as a sartorial sensation.
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