Four Years Later, Bob Iger Changes Course of Disney Studios Before Stepping Down

Four years after The Walt Disney Company went through one of its most surprising leadership shakeups, one of the boldest moves made in that stretch has turned out to be a major win.

Back in November 2022, Disney removed CEO Bob Chapek following a stretch marked by turmoil, uneven box office results, and lingering effects from the pandemic-era theatrical shutdown. The company brought back Bob Iger, the longtime chief who previously led Disney from 2005 to 2020 after succeeding Michael Eisner. Almost immediately upon his return, Iger revealed that three major animated sequels were officially on the way: Frozen 3, Toy Story 5, and Zootopia 2.

Those projects have rolled out steadily. Frozen 3 is set for 2027 (with Frozen 4 already on the slate), Toy Story 5 arrives next summer, and Zootopia 2 officially launched worldwide over Thanksgiving. Based on the results, reviving the Zootopia franchise may be one of Iger’s most effective calls.

The first Zootopia arrived in 2016 and became a breakout for Walt Disney Animation Studios, praised for its mix of humor, social themes, and genre storytelling on its way to more than $1 billion globally. It later inspired the Disney+ series Zootopia+, keeping interest alive while fans waited for a feature follow-up.

In the new film, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return to crack a fresh case involving a reptilian antagonist causing turmoil in the city. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman reprise their roles, joined by Ke Huy Quan as Gary De’Snake.

Zootopia 2 debuted powerfully with $10.2 million in Tuesday previews—the second-highest preview number for Disney Animation behind Moana 2’s $13.8 million. Projections for the five-day Thanksgiving frame ranged from $130 million to $160 million domestically, and the film delivered a $39.5 million official opening day. Globally, early expectations placed international returns between $135 million and $145 million, including a standout $33.7 million opening day in China, the 10th-largest U.S. launch in that market. Critics responded strongly, giving the movie a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Now that the initial holiday weekend is in the books, the full scope of Zootopia 2’s box office power has come into focus.

The sequel surged to $156 million domestically over the five-day weekend, paired with $400 million internationally for a massive $556 million worldwide debut. That makes it the biggest global opening ever for an animated feature and the fourth-largest worldwide opening for any Hollywood title. Over the traditional Friday-to-Sunday window, it earned $96.8 million domestically—second only to Moana 2’s $139.8 million Thanksgiving weekend in 2024.

China played a huge role, delivering a $272 million start. That ranks as the top animated opening ever in the country and the second-largest debut overall, just behind Avengers: Endgame in 2019.

Zootopia 2 didn’t stop there. It also scored the highest global sequel opening since 2021, the biggest worldwide launch of 2025 so far, the strongest opening for an animated sequel in history, and the highest global debut ever for a Disney animated film.

Audiences are embracing it as well, giving the movie an A CinemaScore and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes audience rating. For comparison, the original film opened with $75 million domestically in 2016 before reaching $1.025 billion worldwide. The sequel appears positioned to either reach or surpass that benchmark.

“The incredible response to Zootopia 2 reflects both its worldwide appeal and the remarkable work of our filmmakers and cast,” said Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, via The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s a proud moment for Disney Animation and all of us.”

Iger’s early decision to revive the franchise has clearly paid dividends—and he’s part of the film in a literal sense, too. The movie hides a small cameo featuring Iger as Bob Tiger, a weatherman delivering a quick forecast. While Iger has appeared in documentary projects, this marks his first-ever animated voice role.

It’s also a nod to his former career. Before joining ABC and eventually Disney, Iger worked as a TV weatherman in Ithaca, New York, and even revisited those roots in 2021 during a live forecast on KABC. Director Jared Bush has mentioned that Iger expressed interest in voicing an animated character for years, making this cameo a fitting moment as his contract enters its final stretch ahead of 2026.

His appearance adds a personal touch to a franchise now set for even greater reach following record-setting results.

What do you make of Zootopia 2’s massive opening? Does the sequel’s success suggest that familiar characters are the safest bet for studios? Or is it simply what audiences want right now? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.