Disney Initially Attempted to Limit Puns in ‘Zootopia’ Sequel
A forthcoming sequel to the critically acclaimed animated film Zootopia is embracing wordplay with unprecedented enthusiasm, despite initial attempts by Disney executives to curtail the use of puns.The creative team behind the project revealed they deliberately ignored an early directive to restrict the number of puns in the script.
The upcoming film, also known as Zootropolis in some markets, will see the return of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman as rabbit Judy Hopps and fox Nick Wilde. According to a senior official, the production is taking a markedly different approach to humor than initially envisioned.
“I do love a pun,” stated the film’s writer and co-director, Jared Bush, in a recent interview with SFX magazine. “On the first film, we got a note that said, ‘You can have a total of five puns in this movie.’ This is absolutely true. It was early on. We disregarded that note and put a billion in there.”
The sequel isn’t just relying on puns in dialog and character names; the creative team has extended the playful approach to the film’s visual landscape. Viewers can anticipate a wealth of reimagined brand names tailored to the animal inhabitants of Zootropolis. Examples include “Gnucci,” “Tommy Swillfigure,” “Urban Snoutfitters,” “Snarly Davidson,” “Cattlelac,” and “Barns and Noble.”
“I think there are a lot of people at Disney who love puns,” Bush added. “Cory Loftis is our production designer. He also loves them and he’s in charge of all the signage you see in-world. You’ll see a ton of advertisements and brand labels. It is aggressive and we love it.”
One particularly intriguing detail revealed by Bush involves an in-universe streaming platform. “At one point, Nick Wilde goes on something called HuluZoo, which is a streaming service,” he teased. “You’ll see a lot of different tiles of the different shows that we watches. I don’t want to spoil what they are, but everything in there is a gem. Pay close attention.”
Beyond the humor, the sequel will also delve into the origins of Zootropolis itself. The narrative will incorporate flashbacks, offering audiences a glimpse into the city’s early development. “Our mystery isn’t just set in the modern day,” Bush explained. “It actually goes back in time to some of the creation of Zootropolis. In that ti
