We’ve so far heard only bits and pieces about Disney Animation’s Zootopia, but the studio has today released a very impressive batch of new images along with the reveal of the full voice cast, and it’s chock full of some familiar and very famous names. Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Shakira are among those who were previously confirmed.
The two biggest new additions have to be Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation) as Chief Bogo, head of the Zootropolis Police Department, and J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) as Mayor Leodore Lionheart, the noble leader of Zootropolis. Other notable cast members include Octavia Spencer (The Help), Alan Tudyk (Firefly), John DiMaggio (Futurama).
According to the synopsis, the modern mammal metropolis of Zootropolis is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery.
It sounds like a really cool premise, and Disney Animation has really been knocking it out of the park lately with movies like Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, and, of course, Frozen.
Zootopia is directed by Byron Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph). It’s currently set to be released in North America next March, so a trailer should be here soon!
