Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps in Partner Therapy In Zootopia 2
By
Angel Shaw
Updated
38 minutes ago
Angel Shaw is a Lead Writer and Peer Mentor on ScreenRant's New TV team, covering new-release TV shows across all major streaming platforms. She has been a writer with ScreenRant since 2022 and specializes in Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and fantasy.
Angel holds a bachelor's degree in language interpreting and is passionate about all things culture and communication—especially in how it relates to popular media throughout history (from Shakespeare to Friends to Game of Thrones).
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This article contains potential spoilers for Zootopia 2!Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde shippers are wondering if a romance between the two will finally become a canon reality in Zootopia 2 but this would be a bad idea. The original movie centralized a powerful social commentary on racism and general prejudice—but a relationship between the two protagonists would only take Zootopia's themes a step backward.
During Judy and Nick's investigation in Zootopia, they uncovered a criminal conspiracy to turn the city of Zootopia against its traditionally predatory citizens. This became a clear metaphor for the prejudice often seen in the real world, and Zootopia's lessons on inadvertent biases established the movie as another of Disney's most impactful.
Still, even with these layered social commentaries, it was hard to ignore the chemistry between Officer Hopps and ex-con Nick Wilde—leading many to wonder (and hope) they would become a romantic couple in the sequel.
The Zootopia Director Has Discussed A Possible Nick & Judy Romance
Judy and Nick are taking a selfie in Zootopia.
Nick and Judy's relationship in Zootopia was an unlikely one, especially given Judy's inadvertent bias against foxes. However, as they worked on their investigation together (and Judy worked on herself), it became clear they had a connection.
As of the film's end, this only went as far as friendship—and partners, of course—but audiences couldn't help but see more. Despite being members of different species (no other inter-species relationships were seen in Zootopia), their chemistry was palpable.
It's far more than a select few who hope to see Judy and Nick in a romantic relationship in the story of Zootopia 2. Directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore have revealed (via EW) that their most frequently asked question is what the nature of the two unlikely protagonists' relationship is—and they didn't yet have an answer.
"Somebody's going to be disappointed." said Moore, "It will either be romantic, or it will stay a friendship," he said, explaining that either could still be a viable option. This is good news for shippers, but given the crucial themes of Zootopia, romance may be a problem.
The directors also spoke with Collider and discussed the relationship a bit further, saying:
I think it’s just undeniable chemistry, in whatever form you want to see it. It’s great because that means that people loved them in the first film. Because this film picks up literally a couple of weeks after the first one transpired, we get to see that chemistry and that conflict and that fun. That contrast goes to a whole new level, which has been great for the film.
Nick & Judy Could Be A Problematic Representation Of Non-Traditional Relationships
Judy and Nick Sitting in a Single Chair and Looking Hopeful in Zootopia
If Nick and Judy were to become a couple in Zootopia 2, it would likely aim to demonstrate the difficulties that often arise from non-traditional relationships. Since the first film explored the impacts of fear and racism on society, Zootopia's Nick and Judy could be equated to a real-world interracial couple.
This is, of course, another important topic to discuss, and it's the kind of diversity that is important for children to understand and accept as the norm. However, representing these concepts with an inter-species relationship could be highly problematic.
Disney has already faced criticism for its tendency to represent its BIPOC characters as animals or to make them turn into animals at some point in the plot. This is seen in Turning Red, The Princess and the Frog, and even Emperor's New Groove.
Additionally, the studio has been known to shy away from LGBTQ+ representation by placing couples into sci-fi settings like Strange World or Lightyear or dehumanizing gay characters like the cyclops in Onward. Therefore, equating a non-traditional relationship to an interspecies one would only add to the issue.
The Zootopia 2 Novelization Hints At The Romance
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps holding a fish in Zootopia 2
The novelization of Zootopia 2 delivers plenty of hints about a romance between Nick and Judy. It's unclear how much of the novelization will actually be in the movie, but the book sees the two share intimate words when their lives are in danger.
Both characters point out that nobody in the world matters more to them than each other. Nick's specific quote is very heartfelt:
"'Okay, I don't care that we're different. 'I care about you. And I didn't say it, but I should have said it. But I didn't... because, well 'cause I am... an emotionally insecure source of your discomfort who is not good at expressing his feelings, probably because I've been on my own my whole life. It's not an excuse, it's just, it's why instead of telling you that you're the best thing that ever happened to me...no one else in the world matters more to me than you do."
Meanwhile, Judy's response is also extremely vulnerable and showcases how much they mean to each other:
"I only take what you say personally because you're the only one in my life who ever believed in me, even when I don't even believe in myself. And I should have told you that. And no one else in the world matters to me more than you do, either...And the thought of losing you scares me because... you're my pack."
Novelizations of movies are not always accurate to what's on the screen. Sometimes things are different and sometimes, a scene might not even be in the film. Either way, this hints at how deep their connection is. That said, this could still be read as friendship, so Zootopia 2 might keep them as friends, which is for the better.
Zootopia 2 Must Continue Its Effective Social Commentary
An all-animal civilization is nothing new to Disney. What made Zootopia special was the parallels it created with extraordinarily relevant and uncomfortable real-world topics. Characters like Judy and her parents weren't evil. Yet, they had to stop and reflect on how their inadvertent biases hurt the people and the world around them.
To make it even better, it did this in a way that young audiences could understand—with the goal that as they grow up watching these fun and adorable characters, they would learn (along with their parents) always to be a better version of themselves.
Zootopia 2 promises to continue this and bring with it new important lessons that child and adult audiences can benefit from. However, it must be sure not to get in its own way.
The relationship between Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde is a beautiful representation of biases and prejudices conquered, and making it romantic could potentially damage this image. There are an infinite number of social issues that Zootopia 2 could explore—and it can do so while leaving their romance out of it.
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