‘Zootopia 3’ Will Take Judy and Nick Beyond the City as Birds Join the Franchise

Disney’s ‘Zootopia’ franchise has become one of the biggest success stories in modern animation. ‘Zootopia 2’ grossed $1.870 billion worldwide, surpassing ‘Inside Out 2’ to become Hollywood’s highest-grossing animated film and ranking among the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time.

With numbers like that, a third film was all but guaranteed. Disney made it official at D23 in August, when Jared Bush, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ chief creative officer, took the stage at the Honda Center to announce ‘Zootopia 3’ and show fans an exclusive extended sequence.

Now Bush is offering a few more hints about where the story is headed. Speaking with Collider, he confirmed that the third film will introduce birds to the franchise and said, “This may be the first time that we travel outside the bounds of Zootopia City itself.”

That would mark a major shift for the series. Both previous films kept the action within the city’s districts, so venturing beyond its borders could open up an entirely new part of the world.

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Bush also made clear that Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde will remain at the center of the story. Fans can expect the beloved duo to lead the way into whatever new territory awaits. The introduction of birds didn’t come out of nowhere. ‘Zootopia 2’ ended its credits with a feather landing on Judy’s windowsill, which many fans read as the first hint at the next chapter.

The ‘Zootopia 3’ logo appears to continue that theme. According to The Main Street Mouse, filmmakers have said the birds will have a significant impact on Judy, Nick and the wider city.

Bush explained that the idea has been around for a long time. He said that he and Byron Howard started thinking about introducing birds and reptiles about 15 years ago, shortly after the first film.

Fans hoping for a quick follow-up may need to be patient. Bush said the film is going to take a lot of time to get right, and that its release could land in one of several different years depending on how development goes.

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He also noted that the timing depends on Disney Animation’s other projects. It’s important for the studio to let its artists know when a film will be made so they can plan their careers. No release date has been announced yet, and the project remains in early development.

Ginnifer Goodwin, who has voiced Judy since the original film, and Jason Bateman as Nick are expected to return. Ke Huy Quan is also set to reprise his role as Gary De’Snake, the friendly pit viper introduced in the sequel.

Quan has already joked about how Gary might fit into a world with birds. He said the birds might be afraid of Gary because he’s a pit viper, but he hopes they’ll get past his intimidating look and become friends.

Since birds and snakes are often natural enemies, that dynamic could make for some fun moments. For now, though, Quan’s comments are only hopes rather than confirmed story details.

With mammals, reptiles, and now birds, the ‘Zootopia’ world keeps getting bigger. Taking the story outside the city limits suggests Disney is ready to explore even more of what this animal society looks like.

After the massive success of ‘Zootopia 2’, expectations will be sky-high for the next installment. Judging by Bush’s comments, the team is taking its time to make sure it lives up to them.

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