Ginnifer Goodwin has always liked going back to the fun, colourful world of Zootopia. When she originally voiced Officer Judy Hopps in 2016, she had no idea how much people would enjoy the positive rabbit who thought everyone could be anything. When she went back into the recording booth for Zootopia 2 over ten years later, she was looking forward to feeling nostalgic and excited. She didn’t expect to be removed from her co-star Jason Bateman just because he made her laugh so hard that she couldn’t work.
Goodwin told The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview that her sessions for the long-awaited sequel came with very clear directions. The studio would always put her and Bateman in separate booths when they were scheduled to record, even if they were talking to each other in the same scene. She stated the reason in a way that was both warm and embarrassing, which made her instantly accessible. “I really, really, really get the giggles. I squander everyone’s time. He can’t help but make me chuckle. She said that the filmmakers built special recording booths to keep them apart, not because they had different ideas, but because her laughing was too contagious to contain.
Her confession was quite human in a nice way. When we see the finished outcome, voice acting frequently looks easy, but Goodwin’s story gives us a look of what it’s like to work behind the microphone. Some actors have trouble with hard-to-say words or showing emotion. Goodwin’s biggest problem was that she had to work with a co-star who she thought was quite humorous. She remembered more than once that she would start laughing in the middle of a key scene, destroying the take and making the sound team start again. The crew came up with a practical solution to the problem that happened so often that it worked even when Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde were not physically together.
Goodwin told another shocking fact. She said that if Zootopia 3 ever happens, she hopes that technology will help her stop laughing. She said that sound engineers are already working on techniques to record both performers at the same time and separate her chuckling from the useful audio. “They made these booths where they can put us.” If we can get a third one, they can put us all in the same room, and I won’t mess up all the takes since they can isolate the sound of me laughing. We need to do this so that I can see it and not just wonder what he did in his recording. She was so excited that it was almost childlike. Even after all these years in the business, she still can’t believe how animation brings people together.
People all across the world praised Zootopia not only for how beautiful it looked, but also for its message of kindness and dedication. Fans were really excited when they heard that a sequel was coming out. Goodwin said she had been looking forward to this moment for a long time. She said that the time between films was both long and full with promise. She often thought about when she would be able to come back as Judy and how others would react. That feeling of waiting for something to happen is what drives her deepest wish: that Zootopia 3 doesn’t take as long. She wants the next time to be shorter because she had to wait so long last time. She thinks that the audience’s excitement might make the studio work faster, and she has been very clear about wanting the story to go on.
Even though they were in different booths, seeing Bateman again reminded her how rare it is for voice performers to have such good chemistry. Actors who never meet in person often work together on animated films. But Goodwin and Bateman filmed parts together for the first movie, and that early work together helped make the connection between Judy and Nick so strong. This time, the choice to separate them shows how strong that bond is. Their discussions don’t sound forced or planned; they feel like they are having fun and teasing each other like old friends. Goodwin’s laughter might have slowed down the work, but it also showed how close the actors still are to their characters.
When you hear her speak, you can see that she really loves the world she helped make. She talked about Judy Hopps with love and said that she was a reminder to believe in what is possible. Goodwin has remarked before that she recognises aspects of herself in the determined rabbit, especially the will to be kind. After so many years, getting back into that way of thinking felt like putting on a warm, comfortable jumper filled of memories. But this time, she had experienced more life, learnt more, and brought that depth to her performance.
Many fans think that making animated sequels is easy, but Goodwin’s narrative shows how much work and attention goes into making sure that a cherished universe still feels real. You have to get every giggle, vocal crack, and spontaneous moment perfectly. To make sure that feelings come through microphones, sound technicians, directors, and editors all work together. It has a kind of invisible power, and Goodwin said she still feels lucky to be part of something that affects kids and adults in so many nations.
It seems like she really wants a third movie. She isn’t just concerned about how much money the movie makes or how well the franchise does. She wants to sit in the studio again, hear Bateman’s voice over her headphones, and try not to giggle. She wants to witness how Judy Hopps will change and how Nick Wilde will change with her. Above all else, she wants to tell a narrative that people will feel like they waited for.
Goodwin seemed positive but realistic when asked about how the people might react. People were yearning for something happy when the first movie came out, and she thinks they are still looking for that. Things have changed in the globe since 2016. People who have been through hard times and uncertainties find consolation in going back to a familiar, upbeat world. That emotional bond is important to her. It’s not just for fun. It is good to know that hope and friendship are still strong.
She had to record alone, though, because there were booths between them to keep her laughter from messing up the schedule. But she still felt connected. She came into the studio and knew that a friend who understood her rhythm was on the other side of the wall. She believed that their personalities would still come through and that Judy’s tenacity and Nick’s witty charm would blend together just as well as they always had.
