Release Date, Trailer, Cast and Plot

The wait for Zootopia 2 is almost over.

The first trailer for Zootopia 2, the sequel to the hit 2016 Disney film Zootopia, was released on May 20. In the teaser, Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) return to get to the bottom of a new mysterious figure who shows up in an ominous black cape.

The enemies-turned-friends are joined by Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), who “arrives in Zootopia and turns the animal metropolis upside down,” according to the movie’s synopsis.

The final trailer for the upcoming movie arrived in September, just two months before the movie was set to hit theaters.

“We are beyond excited to welcome everyone back to the outrageous, expansive animal metropolis of Zootopia, and take audiences on a hilarious, wild ride into parts of the city we’ve never visited before,” co-director Jared Bush, who also wrote the script, said in a statement.

In addition to the recurring characters, the second film will also introduce a few new faces and actors — including Fortune Feimster and Quinta Brunson.

Here’s everything to know about Zootopia 2, including the release date, cast, plot and trailer.

How did Zootopia end?

In the first Zootopia film, Officer Judy and conman Nick started out as enemies. However, after they realize that dozens of predators are disappearing, they must team up to get to the bottom of the mystery.

As Judy and Nick start to investigate the disappearances, they learn that there is an undercover conspiracy in which someone is poisoning flowers to turn predators “savage.” Their investigation later reveals that Assistant Mayor Dawn Bellwether (Jenny Slate) was the mastermind behind the flower poisoning and wanted to incite fear among the town’s citizens and exploit her power.

Luckily for the world of Zootopia, Judy and Nick were one step ahead of Bellwether, and they outsmarted her by replacing the darts in her gun before she tried to shoot and poison them. The two record her full confession, and Bellwether and her co-conspirators are arrested.

The film ends with the predators returning to their natural states. Meanwhile, Nick also turns around his conman ways and joins the Zootopia Police Department alongside Judy. He becomes her partner and the first fox police officer.

What is Zootopia 2 about?

Now that Judy and Nick are friends and partners, they must work together to learn more about the “trail of a great mystery” surrounding the new character, Gary.

“To crack the case, they must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before,” the synopsis reads.

Co-director Bush teased that the sequel will show viewers “parts of the city we’ve never visited before.”

“Whether it’s the marshes of semi-aquatic mammals, the vast desert dunes or even greater mysteries beyond, our heroes Judy and Nick will meet a lot of new friends, and discover even more about the world, themselves and a brand-new snake in town,” he said in a statement.

Is there a trailer for Zootopia 2?

In September 2025, the Walt Disney Animations Studios released the final trailer for Zootopia 2, showing Nick and Judy teaming up once again to make Zootopia a safer place to live as they go undercover to investigate Gary.

The latest footage comes after the first trailer for Zootopia 2 was released on May 20. The teaser didn’t include any of the characters speaking, but instead showed Judy, Nick and Gary silently wandering through different parts of Zootopia.

Co-director Byron Howard explained that they highlighted one of the film’s original songs in the trailer instead of having the stars speak.

“The trailer features the original song ‘ZUTU’ by Zootopia’s finest lemming techno group, LEMEEENS. Fresh from touring with superstar Gazelle as her opening act, members Hans-Peter, Gūnther, Spielt and their DJ Spaß created the song to mark the occasion and welcome the world back to the City of Zootopia!” he said in a statement.

Which cast members are returning for Zootopia 2?

Both Goodwin and Bateman are confirmed to reprise their roles as Officers Judy and Nick, respectively. Prior to the trailer dropping, Shakira also revealed that she’d be returning as Gazelle.

“She’s got a new look, a new song and of course, new dance moves,” the popstar shared in a D23Brasil announcement in November 2024. “Just wait until you see what she and her tiger dancers have been working on. I know you’re going to love it.”

Among the characters teased to return in the trailer are Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), Yax (Tommy Chong), Mr. Big (Maurice LaMarche), Clawhauser (Nate Torrence), former Assistant Mayor Bellwether (Slate), Stu Hopps (Don Lake), Bonnie Hopps (Bonnie Hunt) and Flash (Raymond S. Persi).

As for new cast members joining the animal kingdom, in addition to Quan, both Brunson (Dr. Fuzzby) and Feimster (Nibbles) will tag along for the new adventure.

When will Zootopia 2 be released?

Zootopia 2 will be released in the United States on Nov. 26, 2025. In the meantime, fans can stream Zootopia on Disney+.