The world of Zootopia is getting another chapter. Disney has officially confirmed that Zootopia 3 is in development, just months after Zootopia 2 achieved a remarkable milestone at the global box office.
The announcement was made during Disney’s D23 fan event on Friday, where Disney Animation chief Jared Bush appeared alongside voice stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan.
Goodwin, who voices the optimistic rabbit police officer Judy Hopps, teased fans with the announcement, saying: “The bunny and the snake will be back!”
Bush subsequently confirmed that the third installment will bring back several popular characters while also introducing a new storyline involving birds.
‘Zootopia 2’ Becomes a Box Office Sensation
The announcement comes after Zootopia 2 delivered an extraordinary performance in cinemas around the world.
The sequel has reportedly earned $1.87 billion globally, making it the biggest Hollywood animated movie ever by worldwide box-office revenue.
The achievement marks a major expansion of the franchise’s success. The original Zootopia, released in 2016, was already a major commercial hit and surpassed the $1 billion mark worldwide.
The success of the sequel has now given Disney a strong reason to continue exploring the fictional animal metropolis and the characters who live there.
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde Return
The Zootopia franchise centers on Judy Hopps, an ambitious rabbit who becomes a police officer, and Nick Wilde, a clever fox who becomes her unlikely partner.
Judy is voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, while Jason Bateman provides the voice of Nick Wilde.
Together, the characters have become two of Disney Animation’s most recognizable modern characters. Their investigations take them through a city populated entirely by anthropomorphic animals, allowing the films to combine comedy, mystery and social themes.
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While specific details about the plot of Zootopia 3 remain limited, Disney has confirmed that birds will play a significant role in the new story.
Ginnifer Goodwin Wanted a Third Film
Goodwin had already expressed interest in returning for another installment even before Zootopia 2 demonstrated its enormous box-office potential.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2025, the actress said she was hoping for a third movie and joked that audiences simply needed to support the sequel to make it happen.
Her wish has now become a reality, with Disney officially moving forward with the next chapter.
The filmmakers behind the franchise have also previously suggested that they see enormous potential for additional stories within the Zootopia universe.
More Stories Waiting to Be Explored
Jared Bush and director Byron Howard have both indicated that the world created for Zootopia offers plenty of opportunities for future stories.
Bush previously said that if the franchise continued to perform well, he could imagine spending much of his career exploring the world of Zootopia. He has also pointed out that audiences have so far seen only one city on one continent on one planet.
That leaves considerable room for Disney to introduce new locations, cultures and animal characters in future installments.
With Zootopia 3 now officially confirmed, fans can expect Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and a new group of animal characters to return for another adventure. And if the success of the first two films is any indication, the animated city still has plenty of stories — and chaos — left to offer.
