Disney Announces Zootopia 3 During D23 Showcase

The Walt Disney Company kicked off this weekend’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event with its major Disney Entertainment Showcase last night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The announcement included the official reveal of Zootopia 3 being in early development at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

During the showcase, franchise stars Ginnifer Goodwin (voice of Judy Hopps) and Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan (voice of Gary De’Snake), were joined on stage by Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer and Oscar winner Jared Bush (Encanto, Zootopia) to announce the upcoming threequel. They also screened an exclusive custom sequence for the audience.

Disney says that more details on Zootopia 3, including its release date, will be revealed later on. The long-awaited sequel to 2016’s Zootopia finally hit theaters last year, and it was a critical and commercial smash, grossing $428 million domestically and over $1.86 billion worldwide.

Zootopia 2 introduced the sentient reptiles to the Zootopia world, while a post-credits scene teased the introduction of the birds, which will likely involve the plot of the new sequel. The newly revealed logo (see above) also teases birds arriving in Zootopia, with the feathery three.

Also during the showcase, Bush revealed that production is underway for a new Disney Animation Studios original feature with the working title, Clay. The new original feature will star Academy Award winner Kieran Culkin in the lead role of Flip.

The new feature is set in a magical rainforest populated by fantastical creatures. When the rebellious misfit Flip is unwillingly chosen during a yearly ritual to mentor a young, impressionable ball of clay named Mushy, the unlikely duo is swept into a chaotic, funny, and ultimately life-changing adventure.

Clay is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn (Disney’s Hexed, Lilo & Scratch) and produced by Peter Del Vecho (Frozen, Frozen 2). The animated feature arrives exclusively in theaters in 2028.