Ginnifer Goodwin reveals Zootopia 2 secrets, talks Judy & Nick’s emotional scene, and teases Zootopia 3 in this interview with Mama’s Geeky.
Zootopia 2 is breaking records at the box office, having already crossed the $1 Billion mark. At the heart of this sprawling metropolis is Ginnifer Goodwin, whose portrayal of the eternal optimist Judy Hopps has turned the character into a global icon of kindness. Known for being a massive Disney enthusiast herself, Ginnifer brings a level of authentic passion to the role that makes Judy feel like more than just an animated bunny – she’s a role model for fans of all ages.
In this interview, I sat down with Ginnifer Goodwin to discuss Zootopia 2 and the potential Zootopia 3. We dive into her hilarious physical reaction to getting the official green light call, the emotional depth of Judy and Nick’s evolving relationship, and those tantalizing post-credit scenes that have everyone talking about a potential third film. From trauma dumping to hidden Easter eggs, Ginnifer pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to return to the world of mammals (and finally, reptiles!).
Ginnifer Goodwin’s Reaction To Finally Getting That Call
Tessa Smith: For you, what was it like when you got that call about Zootopia 2?
Ginnifer Goodwin: I mean, I had been calling my friends at Disney truly every year and being like, “Are we going back to work yet?” And when that call finally came in—which was December 2023—and they were like, “For your holiday gift this year…” I was so startled that it was real that I physically fell out of a chair! I feel like when I see that on TV, I’m like, “That’s not real. People don’t do that.” I fell out.
Zootopia 2’s Easter Eggs & “Zootopia 3” Tease
Tessa Smith: We have to talk about it – they tease a third one. There has to be a third one now! You can’t just leave that tease in there.
Ginnifer Goodwin: You just can’t leave that! I saw a fan post something… this is where I’m like, I love the algorithm and it knows what I want to say. There was a fan post about an Easter egg regarding the passcode that Clawhauser is trying to decipher. People should go down that rabbit hole, as it were.
Tessa Smith: I didn’t notice that until after I saw the end credit. Then I saw it online and I was like, when I see Zootopia 2 again, I’m going to see if I can read this!
Ginnifer Goodwin: Right! So many people, by the way, don’t stay for post-credit scenes. It didn’t occur to me that – because the other two cast members in that post-credit scene are actually our directors doing the voices – we were the only cast members who knew about that scene and what we were taunting about a potential third film. It was really fun to have everybody take that in in real time.
Tessa Smith: Obviously no scripts are out there yet, we just ended the second one, but what would you like to see for Judy and Nick next?
Ginnifer Goodwin: Oh my gosh. Well, I’m just so tickled that we went so far. I cannot believe how much character growth and change we were able to have while having the story pick up only a week after the end of the first movie. So I’m like, if we could go that far with two, what can we do with three? I’m ecstatic because they are endlessly blowing my mind. I could never pitch anything, but I just can’t wait to see what they want to do with them.
The Emotional “Trauma Dump” Scene
Tessa Smith: I do have to talk about that one scene where Judy and Nick kind of “trauma dump” on each other. It’s so good. I cry every time. I’ve seen this movie like six times already and I cry every time. What was it like recording that moment?
Ginnifer Goodwin: I was so in the dark as to what Jason [Bateman] was doing on the other side. I assumed that at a rapid pace, he was going to “emotionally vomit” it all up. So I thought my job was to match what I thought his speed probably was, thinking about how he handles comedy and looking at the scene as written.
I had no idea that he was going to really “sit in the soup of feelings” in that scene. I found it so moving. And then I was elated that I hadn’t known, because I think the whole reason the scene works is because Judy actually is completely self-aware by that point. We needed to have her dumping at the pace that she did to have the scene work.
Be sure to watch our full interview with Ginnifer Goodwin to get more behind-the-scenes details of Zootopia 2, which is still playing in theaters everywhere.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.