Disney is a company that doesn’t typically rock the boat, but 25 years ago, that’s exactly what it did with The Emperor’s New Groove (2000). While the film was originally conceived as a musical much in the same vein as other Disney Renaissance titles, thanks to a troubled production, it changed to a wild and kinetic 78-minute comedy. Gone were the songs by Sting and in were buddy comedy gags, dry wit, and some of the best one-liners in the company’s 100-plus-year history. In other words, it’s amazing and comes highly recommended.
Since its release, the film has earned a strong cult following and endures as an icon of meme culture. It’s a comedy that’s perfect for all ages, and a part of the movie’s charm is its wonderful cast of voice acting talent. While The Emperor’s New Groove wasn’t a career highlight for any of them, it introduced an entire new generation to some comedy powerhouses from across the spectrum. After you’ve finished watching The Emperor’s New Groove over on Disney+ and you want to know what happened to the cast since then, then we at JustWatch are here to enlighten you.
David Spade (Kuzco) - Hotel Transylvania (2012)
There’s a running joke within the Disney community that Kuzco is the greatest Disney Princess of all time, and a part of that comes from the wonderful performance of David Spade. His sardonic narcissism really helped elevate Kuzco into the perfect brat that you love to see get taken down a peg.
Following The Emperor’s New Groove, Spade spent the decades since mostly working alongside former Saturday Night Live (1975) alum Adam Sandler and his production company, Happy Madison. This collaboration helped Spade create his most well-known role since The Emperor’s New Groove, Griffin the Invisible Man in Hotel Transylvania. For four movies, Spade continued to deliver his lines with a snarky and lackadaisical attitude and helped make the series a spooky but approachable franchise for kids, much like The Addams Family (2019). If you want a family-friendly series of movies that capture that Halloween vibe, Hotel Transylvania is right up your alley.
John Goodman (Pacha) - Monsters Inc. (2001)
Out of all of the cast members of The Emperor’s New Groove, John Goodman is probably the most well-known and beloved. Goodman does a wonderful job playing the warm and compassionate father role, and Pacha is no exception. He’s calm, understanding, and just a loveable guy you want to be around.
While he already made a name for himself as Dan Conner in Roseanne (1988), his most beloved role came only a year after The Emperor’s New Groove when he appeared in another Disney project, Monsters, Inc.. Goodman plays Sully, the kindhearted monster who does whatever he can to protect Boo and send her back home. If you found yourself enjoying the whimsy but mature tone of The Wild Robot (2024), then Monsters, Inc. will make you feel the same way, almost entirely thanks to John Goodman’s performance.
Eartha Kitt (Yzma) - Holes (2003)
An icon of the ‘60s, Eartha Kitt was a sex symbol for Baby Boomers who saw her play Catwoman in Adam West’s Batman (1966). By the time she appeared as Yzma, she was 73 years old, but that didn’t stop her from making Yzma one of the most delicious Disney villains of all time. Up until her death in 2008, whenever she had the opportunity to play Yzma, she would always relish it.
Kitt spent most of her years after The Emperor’s New Groove appearing in children’s movies and shows, with her most iconic role being Madame Zeroni in Holes. Ask any kid who watched Holes growing up, and they’ll tell you why Zeroni is a woman not to be messed with. After all, you don’t want to be cursed for all eternity if you forget to return to her. Holes is filled with cartoonish moments that may seem goofy to adults, but feel as gargantuan to a kid as the adventures the kids in The Goonies (1985) went on. It’s an underrated adventure movie that’s perfect for kids who may feel like they’re too old for Disney, but aren’t quite ready for PG-13 young adult adaptations.
Patrick Warburton (Kronk) - The Venture Bros. (2004-2018)
Kronk is a lovable idiot. His earnest stupidity is infectious, and the way that Patrick Warburton speaks each line is comic gold. Like Keith David or Kevin Michael Richardson, he has a distinct voice and tends to pop up in dozens of different animated shows and movies. Like Goodman, Warburton also had an active and healthy career before playing Kronk, with most people probably recognizing him as Joe Swanson from Family Guy (1999). However, following The Emperor’s New Groove, he stepped into the shoes of the greatest bodyguard of all time in The Venture Bros., Brock Samson.
While Kronk is warm and inviting, Sampson is the exact opposite. He’s cold, violent, and doesn’t like being around people, which makes most of the action scenes in the show brutal and hilarious. It’s an adult comedy to be sure, with the focus on a large cast of characters with complex relationships, which isn’t too far off from how Archer (2009) handles its characters. The Venture Bros. knows how to balance campy fun with the absurdity of its premise, making it ideal if you want a modern take on Hanna-Barbera cartoons. At the very least, Patrick Warburton will still deliver the laughs, even if Brock isn’t as charming as Kronk.
Wendie Malick (Chicha) - The Owl House (2020-2023)
While she may not be as well-known as Kuzco, Pacha, Yzma, or Kronk, Pacha’s wife, Chicha, is not given as much respect as she deserves in The Emperor’s New Groove. She has to take care of her family, doesn’t put up with Kuzco’s antics, and tells it like it is. The woman who brought her to life is Wendie Malick.
Despite her underrepresented performance, Malick has been very active in numerous shows and movies. Granted, most of these appearances have been supporting roles, but she brings that same no-nonsense energy to each role. Disney fans will undeniably recognise her as the voice of Eda from The Owl House (2020-2023). Like Chicha, Eda has a down-to-earth personality and doesn’t put up with anyone’s stupidity. Sure, she may not exactly be on the up and up herself, but she tries to do the right thing, and Malick conveys that wonderfully. It’s a surprisingly mature animated show, too, despite being directed at kids, with complex emotional beats that would feel right at home in shows like Infinity Train (20191). Even with the darker imagery, The Owl House is still a great show for people looking for a wholesome but serious animated series about the wonders of magic, and Wendie Malick helps to convey that vision
