'Zootopia 3' is officially happening as Disney reveals a surprise at D23

Disney has officially confirmed Zootopia 3 is in early development, giving fans of the animated franchise another reason to return to the bustling animal metropolis. The announcement was made during the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT in Anaheim, California, where Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush appeared alongside Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan.

Goodwin, who voices determined rabbit police officer Judy Hopps, and Quan, who voices Gary De’Snake, joined Bush on stage as Disney revealed that the third instalment is moving forward. The presentation also included an exclusive custom sequence screened for the D23 audience, giving attendees an early glimpse of what the next chapter could bring.

Disney has yet to announce a release date for Zootopia 3. The studio confirmed that details about its theatrical timing will be revealed at a later date, meaning the project remains in the early stages of development rather than being positioned for an imminent release.

The announcement continues the story of one of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ most successful franchises. The original Zootopia arrived in 2016 and followed Judy as she became the first rabbit police officer in the city of Zootopia. Her unlikely partnership with fox Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman, became central to the franchise.

The sequel, Zootopia 2, expanded the world by introducing reptiles, including Gary De’Snake. Quan joined the franchise as Gary, while Goodwin and Bateman returned as Judy and Nick. The second film also brought the characters into another investigation involving new corners of the city and a mystery surrounding Gary.

At D23, Disney specifically placed Goodwin and Quan at the centre of the Zootopia 3 announcement, but the studio has not yet revealed the complete returning cast or the details of the story. Jason Bateman’s involvement in the third film was not confirmed in Disney’s official announcement, so further casting information is still expected.

The franchise has remained a significant property for Disney Animation since the first film’s release. The original won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and developed a broad audience through its combination of comedy, mystery and social themes.

The second instalment continued that momentum and became a major theatrical success before expanding to Disney+. Disney later reported that Zootopia 2 attracted 32m views globally during its first seven days on Disney+, making it the platform’s No. 1 film during its premiere week. The company also said the combined Zootopia, Zootopia+ and Zootopia 2 library had accumulated more than 885m hours of viewing worldwide at the time of that announcement.

The third film therefore arrives with considerable expectations surrounding it, although Disney is keeping its story details closely guarded. The D23 announcement confirms that Judy Hopps and Gary De’Snake will remain part of the franchise’s next phase, while the future of Nick Wilde and other familiar characters remains to be clarified.

For now, Disney has confirmed only that Zootopia 3 is in early development and that fans at D23 received an exclusive preview. With no release date announced, the next major details are likely to emerge as production progresses.