Zootopia 3 may take Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde beyond the boundaries of Zootopia City for the first time, Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush said in a new interview.
Bush told Collider that Judy and Nick will remain at the center of any movie set in the Zootopia world. He also repeated that birds are joining the franchise, then added that the third film may be the first to travel outside the city itself.
The wording matters. Bush described the move beyond Zootopia City as a possibility, not a confirmed plot summary or setting for the entire movie.
He said the idea of adding reptiles or birds dates to conversations he and Byron Howard had about 15 years ago, during work on the original Zootopia. Those discussions started long before either sequel reached production.
Disney announced Zootopia 3 in August with Judy, Nick, Gary De'Snake and Nibbles in the first image. The new interview supplies the clearest hint yet that their next case could expand the map beyond the familiar districts of Zootopia City.
Source: Collider's interview with Jared Bush.