Entertainment
How ‘Zootopia 2’s Ke Huy Quan Conquered A Deadly Fear to Join Disney’s Latest Movie
[Editor’s note: The following contains major spoilers for Zootopia 2.]
Summary
In the Walt Disney Animation Studios sequel Zootopia 2, pit viper Gary De’Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan) shows up in the animal metropolis that hasn’t seen a snake for the past century. The mystery sends rookie cops Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) searching for answers and in the process, they get to know the sweet, lovable reptile, making them even more determined to understand what happened to his family. With the help of old friends, like Flash (voiced by Raymond S. Persi), and new, like podcast host Nibbles Maplestick (voiced by Fortune Feimster), Judy and Nick prove that not only are they a dynamic duo that benefits from working together, but they’re actually friends who truly mean something to each other.
During this interview with Collider, Quan and Feimster discussed what they love most about their new Zootopia characters, why Quan wanted to get over his fear of snakes before voicing Gary, how freeing it was for Feimster to go even bigger in the voice recording process, getting to form a team with Judy and Nick, what they love about Marsh Market, and their hope that we won’t have to wait another decade for Zootopia 3.
Ke Huy Quan and Fortune Feimster Loved Their ‘Zootopia 2’ Character Journeys
“I just feel really fortunate to be able to be a Disney character.”
Collider: This movie made me laugh and cry. When it comes to your characters, in particular, it feels like their differences really are their strengths. What were you each most proud of with what your characters were able to do and accomplish with everything they faced in the movie?
FORTUNE FEIMSTER: I love that Nibbles was a podcaster/conspiracy theorist in the beginning because it’s relevant to the times that we’re in, and I think the movie wanted to reflect the reality of today’s times. But then, seeing her go on this journey, becoming part of the solution and part of this pack, and a very lovable, fun character. As a comedian, of course, I love getting to be the person that gets to add the comedy in these tense situations. That’s always the best time to have a joke, when it’s unexpected. So, I was thrilled at what I got to do.
KE HUY QUAN: For me, I loved the first one and I didn’t know how they could top that, but somehow, they made it funnier, more clever, and more entertaining. What I love about Gary De’Snake is that he’s able to bring a little heart to this movie, and the value and importance of family. That, I really love. I just feel really fortunate to be able to be a Disney character and be part of this incredible movie.
How did you feel about snakes before this? With so many people afraid of snakes, did that affect how you wanted to voice Gary?
QUAN: I was like most people. Before I played Gary, I remember moving into a house, and when I opened the door to the restroom one day, I saw a snake there and I freaked out, like a lot of people would. But to play him, I was like, “I can’t play Gary and still have that [fear].” So, I was able to do some social videos where I got to hold a snake and got to pet him and have him slither onto my arm. The beauty of this movie is that it invites the audience to be open-minded and not judge someone with a preconceived background and stereotypes and all these labels. I just love all the incredible and positive messages that this movie brings.
‘Zootopia 2’ Review: A Strong Disney Sequel Adds Great New Characters and a Fun, Expanded World
After nearly a decade, the world of Zootopia returns bigger and better than ever.
Fortune, talking to the filmmakers, they said you relished in getting to be crazier and weirder and to go bigger. Did that feel freeing? Was that fun to be able to do, when you probably are told more often to bring it back in?
FEIMSTER: Yeah, for sure. Especially in live action, if you’re too over the top, it doesn’t feel real. So, as an actor, you have to watch that and not push too hard for the joke. When I was in the booth and (director) Jared [Bush] would be like, “Bigger! More! Crazier!” I was like, “Okay!” For a comedian, that’s what you want. And for it to play exactly how you want it to, the only place you can do that is animation. I have never felt more free in a project.
Ke Huy Quan and Fortune Feimster Were Excited Their Characters Got to Team Up With Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde
“I got choked up about it.”
Do you guys have a favorite moment in this as a team? One of the things I love is that we all go into this loving Judy and Nick, but now there is this foursome and the four of you together is so much fun.
FEIMSTER: I didn’t know about the end, where you would see the four of us together as this team. I was not aware of that part of the movie because you don’t get a script. So, when I first saw the four of us walking down the road together with the music behind it, I got choked up about it because I was like, “Holy cow, this is a pivotal part of this emotional arc, and there our four characters are.” It made me really proud to be a part of it.
QUAN: Some of the most beautiful moments in the movie didn’t have dialogue. When we’re doing the voice acting, we’re there for the dialogue, and that’s it. But I thought the animators did an incredible job of bringing these characters to life. There are a couple of incredible, heartwarming sequences where there’s not one [bit of] dialogue. That’s when you feel the four of us – Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and our characters – come together and you just go, “What a great team we make!”
FEIMSTER: We’re a pack.
Bateman is crossing his fingers that he’ll be directing ‘The Partner’ with Tom Holland soon.
I loved Marsh Market. I could live in Marsh Market for a whole movie. I just want to hang out with Danny Trejo’s lizard. What are your favorite parts of Marsh Market? What did you enjoy about getting to see that aspect of this world?
FEIMSTER: Hey bub!
QUAN: Hey bub!
It was so funny how that felt like an actual conversation.
FEIMSTER: Yeah, I know, right?! That was something I recorded early on where I was like, “What? What are we doing?” And they were like, “This is just how they communicate.” And I was like, “Okay.” I love when the walrus ended up being the boat. I thought that was so clever. The close-up of the face was so funny. They just really are great at finding those moments.
QUAN: And the lizard has that line that says, “You’re going to realize how we’re much more alike than different,” [before he runs off]. It was so funny.
FEIMSTER: And the bowl of worms was so funny.
QUAN: There are so many great moments in the movie that I think audiences will love.
Ke Huy Quan and Fortune Feimster Hope That ‘Zootopia 3’ Could Happen Sooner Rather Than Later
“There is a little tease at the very end of the credits.”
That’s why I said it makes you laugh and cry. Expect both of those things to happen at various points in a movie like this, and sometimes both at once. Now, we can’t wait a decade for another one. We need to have Zootopia 3 as soon as possible.
FEIMSTER: If they’re doing another one, I hope it will be quicker than that.
QUAN: And by the way, there is a little tease at the very end of the credits, so hopefully, they’ll make another one and it won’t take 10 years.
You can’t tease me like that and then never come back again!
“We love this world. We love hanging out with these characters. We love continuing their journey,” says Jared Bush, who also wrote the film.
- Release Date
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November 26, 2025
- Director
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Byron Howard, Jared Bush
- Writers
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Jared Bush
- Producers
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Jennifer Lee
Zootopia 2 is now playing in theaters. Check out the trailer:
