Zootopia 2 Filmmakers Confirm A Dark Reality For Any Future Disney/Pixar Crossovers (Exclusive)

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I’m so excited for the sequel to Zootopia, which arrives in theaters this November – it’s been almost ten years since the first movie! I know a lot of us fans have been dreaming about a possible crossover with another favorite, A Bug’s Life, especially considering how many other animal-based classics Disney has. But the filmmakers, Jared Bush and Byron Howard, have made it clear that won’t be happening. In fact, they’ve revealed that in the world of Zootopia, the insects from A Bug’s Life wouldn’t be characters at all – they’d just be… well, a source of protein. It’s a bit of a letdown, but I’m still incredibly eager to see what Zootopia 2 brings!

Zootopia 2 Filmmakers Say Bugs & Fish “Have No Soul”

During a preview event for Zootopia 2, the film’s directors, Jared Bush and Byron Howard, discussed the detailed research involved in creating the fictional mammal city. Bush stated that establishing “clear guidelines” for their animal world was key for the Zootopia 2 team. As a result, when figuring out the diets of their meat-eating mammals (and now reptiles in the sequel), the directors shared that insects and fish would certainly be included.

According to our research, we determined that insects and fish do not possess souls,” Bush explained. While this might be a controversial viewpoint, portraying them as food for the other characters-and maintaining that choice throughout production-was “the only logical approach for this film, and we remained committed to it.”

It’s unfortunate, but this means characters from A Bug’s Life will never appear, even briefly, in Zootopia. Disney and Pixar are generally very successful at making their animated movies feel connected, like they all take place in the same universe. However, the firm rule that bugs and fish are simply food was a key part of the world that Bush and Howard built and continued to develop in Zootopia 2.

Zootopia 2 Introduces Reptiles in Sequel

While we won’t be seeing characters like Flik or Dot from A Bug’s Life in Zootopia 2, that doesn’t mean there won’t be fresh faces for viewers to enjoy. Ke Huy Quan will be providing the voice for Gary, a snake, and he’s the first reptile to appear in the main setting of Zootopia in quite some time.

Bush and Howard explained that Gary was a significant challenge for their animation and art team. “[He has] no arms or legs; he can only communicate through his body movements and how he navigates his environment. If you observe closely, he’s a remarkably well-designed character – the detail in every scale, the color choices, and how everything integrates is truly incredible.”

The directors gave a sneak peek of the new Marsh Market area, where many reptiles share a habitat with animals such as seals, walruses, and dolphins. However, the new setting in Zootopia 2 also highlighted some jarring differences in how the world was constructed. It’s a fascinating but sometimes uneasy blend.

Visiting Marsh Market for the first time, I noticed something unusual: a dolphin – which, as you know, is a marine mammal – right next to a fish. It made me wonder, how does that even work?”

It remains to be seen how Zootopia 2 will connect the various animal groups, as Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) and Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) investigate a brand new case. Viewers will have to wait and see if the film can successfully weave these elements together.

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2025-09-30 20:13