By the time you read this, I feel safe in speculating that Zootopia 2 (or Zootropolis, or Zoomania, depending on where you are in the world) will be the most successful film of 2025 that isn’t a Chinese animation called Ne Zha 2. This also means there’s probably a good chance you’ve already seen Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde’s second adventure in the richly textured animal world of Zootopia — and if you haven’t, I definitely recommend it, especially if you’re looking for some golden age Pixar-level family viewing over the festive season that boasts a good message along with all the usual jokes and movie homages.
This lively sequel to the great 2016 Disney animation reunites many of the same voice actors that made the first movie so memorable — including Ginnifer Goodwin (as Judy), Jason Bateman (Nick), Idris Elba (Chief Bogo), Shakira (Gazelle) and Jenny Slate (Bellweather) — alongside some new but familiar voices like Ke huy Kwan (as Gary De’Snake) and Andy Samberg (Pawbert Lynxley). Buried a little deeper in the credits, however, are several surprising cameos. Read on to discover more and use the guide below to find out where to see them in their most famous roles on services like AppleTV, Netflix, Prime Video and elsewhere.
11. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Zeke, a dik dik
Dwayne Johnson might have devoted much of 2025 to focus on promoting (and possibly nabbing his first Oscar nomination for) The Smashing Machine, but the legendary wrestler turned action star just couldn’t help appearing in the most successful American movie of the year in his downtime.
Naturally, the actor once again showed his range by playing Zeke, an adorable dik-dik that gets stuck in a tuba during the car chase through the Zootennial parade. Jumbo unit promptly shows up to blow him out and, naturally, we never see him again.
10. Michael J. Fox as Michael J.
How’s this for a bit of nominative determinism: Back to the Future legend Michael J. Fox appears in Zootopia 2 for a brief cameo as Michael J., a fox whom Nick encounters during his brief time in prison.
This cameo is short and sweet (you actually need to keep your eyes peeled for it), but it’s punctuated by an unmistakable quote from the actor’s most famous role — or to quote Marty McFly, “What’re you lookin’ at, butthead?”
9. Quinta Brunson as Dr Fuzzby
It turns out, when Quinta Brunson isn’t looking after her students in Abbott Elementary, she runs a police-partners counselling course in the police headquarters of Zootopia — or more accurately, a quokka named Dr Fuzzy does.
Fans of all things Quinta can also hear the actor’s voice in season 4 of Big Mouth, where she portrays Missy’s cousin from Atlanta. You will also be able to hear her opposite Bill Hadar in a new animated adaptation of Cat in the Hat, which is set for release next year.
8. Robert Irwin as Furwin
Through the movie, Nick dreams about a faraway beach and a delicious-sounding drink called a Pina Koala. At the end of the movie, we get to actually see what that looks like, as Bellwether attempts to make her escape, only to be foiled by our furry heroes.
Before that, she meets a friendly Aussie Koala voiced by Robert Irwin — and if that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the son of the legendary wildlife personality and conservationist, Steve Irwin. Now that’s a touch of class, mate.
7. Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song as Cattrick and Kitty Lynxley
Whether they’re posing with toothbrushes for Richard Kern or fielding questions for Cosmopolitan, Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin continue to be one of the most liked celebrity couples in the business.
For Zootopia 2, the Home Alone and New Girl stars stayed endearingly close again, voicing Cattrick and Kitty, the eldest and meanest of Milton Lynxley’s evil litter.
6. Danny Trejo as Jesús
If you’re looking for someone to voice a cool, calm and collected basilisk from Central America, it almost seems rude not to ask Danny Trejo to do it. The famously prolific character actor clocked in his 463rd IMDb credit with his portrayal of Jesús in Zootopia 2, a mostly friendly reptile who tricks Judy and Nick into eating some grubs before high-tailing it like his namesake across some open water.
Fans of the actor’s voice work are, of course, spoiled for choice when it comes to viewing options, but be sure to keep an ear out for him when watching Minions (where he voices Stronghold) and Rick and Morty (Jaguar).
5. Stephanie Beatriz as Bloats
Given that Stephanie Beatriz is perhaps best known for playing the no-nonsense police detective Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, you might not be surprised to hear that she voices another one in Zootopia 2 — although this time, without putting too fine a point on it, the detective is a hippo.
When it comes to animated movies, however, this is far from Beatriz’s first rodeo: if anything, you might even be more familiar with the actress’ voice from her central roles in Encanto (as Mirabel) and The Lego Movie 2 (as General Sweet Mayhem).
4. Jean Reno as Bûcheron and Chèvre
Younger viewers might not be aware of this, but for a good decade or so in Hollywood, basically any French character in a movie seemed to be played by Jean Reno. Perhaps as a little nod to that, both Bûcheron and Chèvre, the two French goats we see on the Zootopia police force, are voiced by the Leon star.
For his fellow countrymen, Reno’s vocal cords are particularly legendary, as the actor voiced Mufasa in the French version of The Lion King.
3. Roman Reigns and CM Punk as Gene Zebraxton and Gene Zebrowski
Rounding out Nick and Judy’s colleagues are Gene Zebraxton and Gene Zebrowski, two zebras who don’t get a whole lot to do aside from fist pumps and saying “Ze-bros!”, which, of course, is more than enough to leave an impression.
The stripy duo are played by the real-life twosome of Roman Reigns and CM Punk, professional wrestlers in WWE who are better known for their rivalry in the ring than any kind of fist-bumping friendship. That’s called acting, my dear.
2. Bob Iger as Bob Tiger
One cameo that surely had the kids in the audience whooping for joy was Disney CEO Bob Iger, who portrays a tiger named, you guessed it, Bob Tiger.
Jokes aside, the character is actually a nod to Iger’s time as a weatherman, a job he held long before his nearly two-decade reign as the most powerful man in Hollywood. The cameo is being seen as a farewell before his planned retirement at the end of next year. Fair enough.
1. Ratatouille
Okay, so Patton Oswald may not have offered his voice here, but his Remy — the unlikely chef hero of Brad Bird’s Ratatouille — can be seen for a brief moment when Judy and Nick are making their getaway from the Lynxley party.
I must admit, my eye was immediately drawn to the namesake dish being plated by the chef, as the animation style was almost identical, which made the big (or little) reveal all the more delightful.
