Zootopia 2: Ginnifer Goodwin Teases Judy and Nick’s Fate After Their Forbidden Romance
Zootopia 2’s smash run has reignited the Judy Hopps–Nick Wilde romance debate—and Ginnifer Goodwin just jumped in. With the sequel turning up their chemistry, Variety asked if the 2025 follow-up is a covert love story, and she didn’t flinch from answering.
After Zootopia 2 steamrolled the box office, the internet did what it does best: argue about whether Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are just besties or one carrot pen away from a rom-com. Ginnifer Goodwin finally weighed in, and no, she didn’t duck it.
So... are Judy and Nick in love?
Variety asked Goodwin point-blank if the 2025 sequel is secretly a love story. Her answer was basically: it’s your call. She’s not putting a label on it, and she’s fine with audiences reading the relationship however they want. That tracks with how Disney often plays these things — different stories, different kinds of love, and room for fans to interpret.
'What I love most about Disney is that all different types of love are celebrated. Just like how "Frozen" is a celebration of sibling love, whatever people glean from "Zootopia" is valid. We made this movie for the public, so do with it what you will.'
She also shared a running joke with Jason Bateman about what a fox–bunny hybrid kid would even be. His answer: a 'Funny.' Yes, they’ve thought about it. No, Disney hasn’t greenlit the Funny Cinematic Universe. Yet.
Where Zootopia might go next
Goodwin also talked about a possible Zootopia 3 and what she hopes to see. She’s into the idea of exploring new corners of the animal world — the stuff the first film didn’t really touch, like semi-aquatic creatures or birds. If you stayed through the credits of Zootopia 2, the movie basically nudges you in that direction: a big feather floats down and lands next to Judy’s carrot pen. It’s a tiny moment, but it’s there for a reason.
Goodwin didn’t pretend to have inside knowledge of part three — she says she genuinely doesn’t know where it’s going — but she trusts the team to keep surprising people as the world gets bigger.
What the filmmakers are hinting at
Director Jared Bush told ScreenRant the feather is there to spark curiosity and remind us the world extends far beyond the city we know. Producer Yvett Merino added that Zootopia was always conceived as just one region on a much larger continent. Translation: there’s room to add whole ecosystems and cultures we haven’t seen yet. Birds are the obvious tease, but there’s a laundry list of species the franchise still hasn’t focused on — insects, fish, and even domesticated dogs and cats are basically untouched territory.
Quick Zootopia 2 stats
- Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
- Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, Alan Tudyk, Nate Torrence, Don Lake, Bonnie Hunt, Jenny Slate
- Runtime: 1h 48m
- IMDb rating (as of now): 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes score (as of now): 93%
Zootopia 2 is playing in theaters worldwide. The first Zootopia is streaming on Disney+. And if you’re asking me, that feather didn’t just drift in there by accident. What do you think it’s pointing to?