In June 2016, directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore were in talks about the possibility of a Zootopia sequel.^[15][16] On February 8, 2023, during the Q1 earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the sequel was in active development.^[17] Later that day, screenwriter Jared Bush confirmed that he was working on the film.^{[‡ 10]} Ginnifer Goodwin, who voices Judy Hopps, told CinemaBlend that she would like to see a role reversal between Judy and Nick in the sequel. “I would like to see Nick have to be the one to convince Judy that the world is worth fighting for”. Jason Bateman, who voices Nick Wilde, also told CinemaBlend about his idea for the sequel: “The two of us [Nick and Judy], kicking butts out there. Cleaning up the streets. We’re a couple of new cops out there. So, bad guys, be warned.”^[18]

On February 7, 2024, Iger announced the film’s release date and that the film would be officially titled Zootopia 2.^[19] On April 15, Goodwin confirmed on her Instagram account that she began recording her lines for Judy, revealing that the film was in production.^[4] At the D23 Expo on August 9, it was announced that Zootopia 2 would feature reptiles, and Ke Huy Quan was announced to be playing Gary, a snake being pursued by Nick and Judy.^[6] Footage was also shown of a sequence in which Nick and Judy search for Gary in Marsh Market.^[20]

On November 8, 2024, at D23 Brazil, Shakira publicly announced that she was returning to voice Gazelle for the sequel, revealing that she was writing a new song for the film alongside Ed Sheeran, and that Gazelle would don a new outfit.^{[‡ 2][‡ 13]} In September 2025, it was announced that the title for Shakira‘s song for the film, which she wrote with Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin, would be “Zoo“. The song was featured in the Zootopia 2 trailer that was released on September 29, 2025, and it was released as a single on October 10, 2025.^[27]