Reptilian Villain, Fresh Faces: What to Expect from Zootopia 2, Hitting Theaters Nov 26!

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One of Disney’s Most Beloved Animated Classics Gets an Exciting Sequel

In 2016, Disney Animation Studios unveiled their 55th “Animated Classic,” Zootopia. Directed by Byron Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), this bright and philosophical tale, featuring a lively animal cast, was a roaring success: over 4 million tickets sold in France, an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and a high rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from the AlloCiné community.

Naturally, fans of the film were thrilled to hear that a sequel was in the works. After nine years of waiting and speculating, the wait is finally over: Zootopia 2 is set to premiere in French cinemas on November 26! To tide us over, let’s review the details that have been revealed about this new chapter. New characters, antagonists, and never-before-seen landscapes… Let’s get into it!

New Faces with Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Rewinding to 2016: after solving the case of the mysterious attacks on herbivores, orchestrated by Deputy Mayor Dawn Bellwether, rookie police officer Judy Hopps and her new partner, the fox Nick Wilde, are still a green but promising team. When Chief Bogo sends them both to track down a mysterious reptilian criminal, Judy and Nick find their partnership tested like never before!

While many beloved characters from the first film will make a grand return in this sequel – including Judy and Nick, as well as Chief Bogo, Mr. Big, and Judith – new characters will also emerge, either as allies or adversaries to law enforcement.

The first of these new faces, who appears to be central to the main narrative arc of Zootopia 2, is none other than the mysterious criminal Gary De’Snake, a blue rattlesnake voiced by Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan in the original version (awarded for his role in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once) and Baptiste Lecaplain in French. Initially introduced as a major antagonist of this new installment, Gary De’Snake turns out to be a complex character with murky motivations. Will Judy and Nick manage to uncover his true intentions?

After the Big family, an influential mafia clan of shrews, a new prestigious lineage will be highlighted in Zootopia 2: the renowned Lynxley dynasty. Particularly influential, this lynx family is at the heart of Zootopia’s ecosystem and its activities. But how far are they willing to go for ambition?

Fortunately, not all the new faces in Zootopia 2 are hostile towards our heroes. Some could even be key witnesses in the Gary De’Snake case, or valuable allies in resolving the plot. Among these new characters is the endearing and eccentric Nibbles Maplestick, a female beaver who is a reptile specialist. Unlike most city dwellers, Nibbles has built a trustful relationship with reptiles, having been accustomed to their presence from a young age. A true guide for Judy and Nick, Nibbles will do her utmost to help them locate the elusive Gary.

A Wealth of New Environments

The original Zootopia allowed viewers to explore the metropolis’s major districts, from upscale neighborhoods to thematic districts, enabling different species to live in symbiosis and harmony.

If a biome reminiscent of an equatorial jungle caught the eye before, this sequel promises even richer geographical novelties: a snowy region (perfect for setting the holiday spirit!), reminiscent of the icy landscapes from Frozen, as well as a real swampy mangrove, a vast wild desert, and impressive rocky gorges…

Zootopia 2 therefore promises great adventures for its characters, both new and returning, as well as for the audience, who are in for numerous surprises! A must-see in animated cinema, debuting in theaters starting November 26.