Premiere - Zootopia 2 : A Glittering Los Angeles Night Welcomes Disney’s Most Anticipated Sequel in Years

By Mulder, Los Angeles, Hollywood, El Capitan Theater, 13 november 2025

On this unusual Southern California Thursday, November 13, 2025, Hollywood Boulevard transformed into a vibrant extension of the mammalian metropolis itself as the world premiere of Zootopia 2 unfolded at the legendary El Capitan Theatre — temporarily renamed “The El Hopitan Theatre,” in a cheeky nod to the franchise’s love of playful parody. The area surrounding the venue was entirely closed off and, in true Los Angeles fashion, even sheltered from the rare November rain. Fans gathered along the slicked-down boulevard, amused by the sight of ushers with umbrellas shaped like bunny ears, a whimsical anecdote that perfectly set the tone for a premiere filled with laughter, unfiltered joy, and a palpable sense of homecoming. Yet despite Disney’s mastery of showmanship, one surprising absence lingered in many conversations that evening: unlike recent world premieres streamed online — such as the festive Jonas Brothers holiday special earlier in the week — this major end-of-year release had no official livestream. For a film of this scale and anticipation, especially a sequel nearly a decade in the making, the omission left more than a few journalists scratching their heads.

The blue carpet was a parade of familiar faces as the main creative team and cast arrived to celebrate a project that had demanded years of meticulous craftsmanship. Ginnifer Goodwin, who once admitted to wandering Disney’s offices “begging to be cast in anything,” arrived glowing — both as Judy Hopps’s voice and as a proud mother, introducing her sons to the public for the first time. Standing beside her, Jason Bateman, effortlessly cool in the way only Nick Wilde’s human counterpart can be, joked about the duo once again “cleaning up the streets” together. Their chemistry, built over nearly ten years of collaboration, radiated in their exchanges with fans. And then came one of the night’s showstoppers: Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan, whose energy captivated the crowd as he described his character Gary De’Snake — “a poisonous viper, but actually really friendly,” he said with a warm grin that instantly won the audience over. The presence of such a beloved performer is one of the many ways the sequel expands its universe, bringing reptiles into the world of Zootopia for the first time, a long-teased creative move that had fans buzzing since the D23 reveal.

If one needed a reminder of the franchise’s global cultural weight, they found it in the arrival of superstar Shakira, reprising her role as Gazelle. Accompanied by her two sons, Sasha and Milan — who proudly revealed they recorded small roles as Judy Hopps’s bunny brothers — she stood as living proof of how deeply the series resonates across generations. The electricity around her doubled when the crowd caught a brief preview of “Zoo,” the new original song she composed with Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin, already trending since it premiered in the film’s September trailer. The roster of talent only grew more impressive as figures such as Nate Torrance, Alan Tudyk, Patrick Warburton, Brenda Song, Quinta Brunson, Fortune Feimster, Bonnie Hunt, Wilmer Valderrama, Robert Irwin, Stephanie Beatriz, Mae Martin, Tig Notaro, Anika Noni Rose, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and many others filled the carpet. Even animal-themed in-universe favorites like Mr. Big — voiced again by Maurice LaMarche — received enthusiastic cheers from longtime fans. Beyond the actors, the presence of Disney president Bob Iger, co-directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, producer Yvett Merino, composer Michael Giacchino, and songwriter Blake Slatkin underscored how deeply the studio has invested in the sequel’s emotional and artistic ambitions.

Inside the theatre, the celebration took on a more intimate tone as the filmmakers reflected on the nearly decade-long journey leading to this night. Co-director Byron Howard expressed the responsibility they felt in honoring the original film, noting how “we want that Disney magic — we want to laugh, we want to cry — so we tried our very hardest to deliver it.” His creative partner Jared Bush emphasized the importance of world-building in the sequel, teasing the many new corners of Zootopia audiences will explore. Fans familiar with the minutiae of production history may recall that Bush, after taking on expanded leadership duties at the studio, became the film’s sole writer and co-director, guiding it through creative evolutions that included an expanded reptile storyline, new cast members such as Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, and Danny Trejo, and surprising returns including Jean Reno. Meanwhile, producer Yvett Merino distilled the film’s heart into a single resonant message: “We are all a little different, and if we take the time to understand those differences, we’re stronger together.” That philosophy echoes both the first film’s emotional core and the sequel’s new narrative direction — a therapeutic program for partners in crisis, forcing Judy and Nick to re-evaluate their trust as they venture deep into unfamiliar districts in pursuit of the enigmatic viper Gary De’Snake.

Throughout the evening, anecdotes rippled through the theatre like affectionate inside jokes. One of the most charming came from Fortune Feimster, voice of the excitable beaver Nibbles Maplestick, who admitted she “still couldn’t believe” she was part of a Disney animated film, confessing that this role now sits at the very top of her career highlights. Another tender moment came courtesy of Bonnie Hunt, whose pride in playing Bonnie Hopps was tied not to Hollywood prestige but to the joy of giving her 19 nieces and nephews a story that will, as she hopes, “last their lifetime.” For longtime fans of the first film, these tiny stories — these very human points of connection — made the premiere feel like a family reunion more than a publicity event. That sense of communal celebration extended outdoors as well, where Disney staged a wildly popular publicity stunt: remote-controlled vehicles driven around Los Angeles with animatronic puppets of Nick, Judy, Gary, Finnick, and Flash behind the wheel. Videos of the sight flooded social media faster than a sloth at the DMV counter — a reminder of the franchise’s immense capacity to delight through even the simplest gestures.

As the lights dimmed and the audience settled in for the world-first screening, the anticipation became almost tangible. After all, Michael Giacchino had returned with a new score, the story had evolved into deeper emotional and psychological terrain, and the central mystery promised both humor and high stakes. Early reactions whispered through the room suggested that Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman had sharpened their chemistry, leaning into the complicated dynamic of partners forced into crisis therapy, and that Ke Huy Quan’s Gary De’Snake had quickly become an instant fan favorite. When Shakira’s “Zoo” burst into the soundtrack during a pivotal montage, several attendees quietly recorded their own mini-reviews into their phones. Every inch of the evening felt like a confirmation: after nearly a decade, the heart of Zootopia still beats strong.

For all its glamour, the world premiere of Zootopia 2 was more than a red-carpet spectacle; it was a celebration of artistic persistence, fan devotion, and the evolution of a world that has become one of Disney’s most beloved modern creations. And with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and their ever-expanding city returning to screens on November 26, audiences around the world will soon discover whether the long wait — and this rainy Los Angeles night filled with warmth, laughter, and reptilian intrigue — was worth it. Judging from the smiles exiting the El Hopitan Theatre, it’s safe to say that the magic of Zootopia has only grown stronger, richer, and more heartfelt with time.

Discover the official red carpet interviews :

itw Blake Slatkin 

itw Bonnie Hunt 

itw Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin 

itw CM Punk 

itw Don Lake 

itw Fortune Feimster 

itw Ginnifer Goodwin 

itw Jared Bush and Bryon Howard 

itw Jason Bateman 

itw Ke Huy Quan 

itw Mae Martin 

itw Mark Rhino Smith 

itw Maurice LaMarche 

itw Michael Giacchino 

itw Anika Noni Rose 

itw Allegra Leguizamo 

itw Amanda Gorman 

itw Nate Torrence 

itw Patrick Warburton 

itw Quinta Brunson 

itw Raymond S Persi 

itw Robert Irwin 

itw Shakira 

itw Stephanie Beatriz 

itw Taylen Biggs 

itw Tiffany Lonsdale 

itw Tig Notaro 

itw Tommy Chong 

itw Wilmer Valderrama 

itw Yvett Merino 

itw Yvette Nicole Brown 

Synopsis:
Zootopia 2 reunites the endearing duo of young police officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde who, after solving the biggest criminal case in Zootopia's history, discover that their partnership is not as solid as they thought when Chief Bogo orders them to participate in a therapeutic program for teammates in crisis. Their partnership will be put to the test when they must go undercover to investigate a new mystery in unfamiliar parts of the city and follow the winding trail of a venomous snake that has just arrived in the animal city...

Zootopia 2
Directed by Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Written by Jared Bush
Produced by Yvett Merino
Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Idris Elba, Shakira, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson
Music by Michael Giacchino
Production company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release dates: November 13, 2025 (El Capitan Theatre), November 26, 2025 (United States)
Running time: 108 minutes

Photos: Getty Images / Walt Disney