Disney animated sequel Zootopia 2 there's a post-credits scene, and it's not a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment: it's both a conclusion to the film's events, a direct callback to the first Zootopiaand playfully tease a possible trick Zootopia 3. However, Disney has yet to greenlight another Zootopia sequel. Zootopia 2's promisingly energetic first box office returns and Disney sequel obsession it's almost a guarantee that a third film will eventually be made. Zootopia And Zootopia 2 co-directors Jared Bush (also a current Disney creative director) and Byron Howard tell Polygon that they think the Zootopia setting has “endless” potential for sequels.
“I think it's infinite because it's built on the fact that [just watching] the normal functioning of the world is entertainment in itself,” says Howard.
[Ed. note: Spoilers below for what happens in Zootopia 2’s post-credit scene, plus the filmmakers’ thoughts on where the movie series could go.]
IN Zootopia 2The mismatched team of rabbit and fox detectives Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) solve another mystery while straining their new professional partnership. This time the story revolves around the viper Gary De'Snake (Everything everywhere and at once Oscar winner Ke Hai Quan, who sneaks into the animal city of Zootopia to recover a stolen diary and prove that the reptiles were unfairly banished from the city after an innocent snake was framed for murder.
This incident reveals great tension between the overachieving, anxious Judy and her more cautious partner. At a key moment in the film, an argument between the two leads to the destruction of a carrot-shaped recording device that was instrumental in both their early relationship and the first case they solved together. Judy gave Nick a pen in the first movie “to symbolize our partnership” and he repairs it and brings it back to the end Zootopia 2 symbolize their reconciliation.
In the post-credits scene, Judy returns home to her apartment with a broken carrot pen lying on the windowsill, reminding viewers that everything is fine between her and Nick. Through the wall, she has a short, cheerful conversation with the loud gazelles that live next door and scream at her and each other primarily. Zootopia. It's also a reminder that in the first film, she retreats to her dark, crummy little room because she's depressed, and the thin walls and aggressive neighbors add to the reasons why she feels lonely and out of place. This time, the same environment is supportive and nurturing and gives her a sense of belonging.
But as she turns to leave, a feather slides from above and lands on her windowsill. The source is unclear, but there is clearly a bird somewhere in the area – an anomaly, since There are no bird inhabitants in Zootopia. As well as Zootopia 2 answers the question, “Why are there no reptiles in this town?”, the feather is a hint that the next film may explore the question of why birds were also excluded. It's even possible that the bird character is looking for Judy's help or spying on her as an adversary, given that she was instrumental in getting the reptiles allowed to return to town.
“Honestly, I think our job is to get people out of the theater. [and] go, like, “That was great!” Man, I want more!” Bush said in an interview with Polygon. “I think that's the goal. And I think in this movie we tried very hard to say, “Here's how you can expand [the Zootopia world]”, which allows people to say, “And you could expand it even further!” I think that's the goal every time we come into this world.”
“There’s still so much room to play in the world of Zootopia,” says co-writer Carrie Liao. “I'm sure there are other animals that I want to see, other environments that exist in our real world, and I think, 'Well, are we going to see that in Zootopia?'
Howard says the series' potential comes in part from the fact that everyone loves animal characters, as well as the opportunity to explore the ins and outs of Animal Town. “We've been fascinated by animals since we were kids,” he says. “I think this is something that unites people all over the world, no matter what country they are from or what their experience is. [It’s fun] see how Zootopia functions, [with] just thousands of animals, different stories, many different paths. So yeah, I think this could go on forever.”
Zootopia 2 is now playing in cinemas.
