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Foreground Image Credit: Glennia, FlickrAhead of his official exit from the Chief Executive Officer position, Bob Iger has made his acting debut.
The original Zootopia, released in 2016, became a massive critical and commercial success for Disney Animation Studios. The film’s clever blend of mystery, comedy, and social commentary resonated with both children and adults, earning over $1 billion worldwide and becoming one of the most successful animated films of all time.
Its popularity spawned a Disney+ series called Zootopia+, and the franchise has maintained strong fan interest over the years, making Zootopia 2 one of the most anticipated animated sequels.
Zootopia 2 follows detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they find themselves on the trail of a mysterious reptile who turns the mammal metropolis of Zootopia upside down. The film stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, reprising their roles, with Ke Huy Quan joining as Gary De’Snake, adding fresh energy to the returning cast.
Disney’s Zootopia 2 earned $10.2 million in Tuesday preview screenings, marking the second-highest haul for a Disney Animation Studios film ever, behind only Moana 2‘s $13.8 million. This strong preview performance signaled considerable consumer enthusiasm heading into the Thanksgiving period.
Zootopia 2 is expected to lead the Thanksgiving five-day box office with between $135 million and $150 million in ticket sales, with some industry forecasters tracking even higher at $130 million to $160 million for the five-day period. The film earned $39.5 million in its first full day of release on Wednesday, demonstrating sustained momentum beyond preview screenings.
Zootopia 2 is poised to dominate at the international box office with projections of $135 million to $145 million over the weekend. The film is performing particularly strongly in China, where it scored the 10th-highest opening day ever for a U.S. release, with $33.7 million. In Korea, the film achieved the second-highest opening day this year for a Hollywood film.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Zootopia 2 has a 93% score. The film benefits from strong word-of-mouth and pent-up demand for family entertainment, positioning it as one of the strongest animated debuts since 2024’s Moana 2.
Disney fans are in for a surprise when Zootopia 2 hits theaters, thanks to a cameo that comes straight from the top of the company itself. Disney CEO Bob Iger steps into the recording booth for his first-ever animated voice role, portraying a tiger weatherman appropriately named Bob Tiger. In the film, the character delivers a quick weather forecast—marking Iger’s unexpected introduction into the world of animation.
While Iger has appeared on camera plenty of times in documentaries and unscripted specials over the years, this is the first time he lends his voice to an animated character—and it’s more personal than it may appear at first glance.
The role isn’t just a fun cameo—it’s rooted in Iger’s own history. Long before becoming one of the most influential executives in Disney history, Iger got his start in broadcasting as a local TV weatherman in Ithaca, New York. The choice to cast him as a tiger forecaster is a tongue-in-cheek nod to that early chapter of his professional life.
It’s not the first time Iger has stepped behind a weather map for Disney, either. In December 2021, just before stepping away from the company during his previous tenure, he delivered the forecast for KABC, the Disney-owned ABC affiliate in Los Angeles. Now, his return as an animated big cat feels like a full-circle moment—with a little Disney magic added in.
According to Zootopia 2 director Jared Bush, this moment has been a long time coming. Bush joked that Iger had been requesting a cameo in one of Disney’s animated films “for years” (per Laughing Place), hinting that this wasn’t a casual offer but something the CEO had been eagerly waiting to check off his bucket list. With Zootopia 2, it seems the timing was finally right.
The cameo lands at a meaningful point in Iger’s career. His current CEO contract is scheduled to wrap at the end of 2026, setting the stage for his eventual departure from Disney. Appearing in Zootopia 2 feels like more than a playful cameo—it serves as a symbolic tribute to the world of animation and storytelling that Iger helped expand during his tenure as leader.
As Disney continues leaning heavily into its major franchises and the ever-growing world of Zootopia, Iger’s contribution—both as CEO and as a tiger—adds another layer to the legacy he’s leaving behind. It’s a blend of nostalgia, corporate history, and creative fun—exactly the kind of mix Disney fans love to discover on the big screen.
Zootopia 2 has arrived with a forecast of excitement—and now, its weather report comes straight from the CEO himself.
How do you feel about Bob Iger stepping down from his role as Disney CEO? Did you catch his cameo in Zootopia 2 this Thanksgiving weekend? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!