Disney’s ‘Zootopia’ Cages Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer & Others

Erik Pedersen

Updated 26 October 2015 at 8:31 pm

Disney today unleashed the full list of actors, characters and some new images of the denizens of Zootopia, the animated tail, er tale, of a “modern mammal metropolis” where animals from across the food chain coexist. Idris Elba and Oscar winners J.K. Simmons and Octavia Spencer are among the newly announced voices for the project from Walt Disney Animation Studios, along with such familiar names as Bonnie Hunt, Tommy Chong, Alan Tudyk and Jenny Slate.

Also set for the all-animal toon cast — no pesky humans in Zootopia —

are Nate Torrence, Don Lake, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, Raymond Persi, Katie Lowes, Jesse Corti and John DiMaggio. They joined the previously announced Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman and Shakira, who plays an international pop star and contributes an original song to the film from directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore.

Opening on March 4, the pic focuses on the melting pot of Zootopia, where animals from every environment live together in such habitat neighborhoods such as ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown. When optimistic Officer Judy Hopps (Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with Nick Wilde (Bateman), a fast-talking, scam-artist fox.

The role as the beefy buffalo Chief Bogo is Elba’s third upcoming Disney voice role; he’s playing the terrifying tiger Shere Khan in The Jungle Book and contributes to the sequel Finding Dory. Here are the Disney provided descriptions of the newly announced characters, along with some pics:

Idris Elba as Chief Bogo, head of the Zootopia Police Department. A tough cape buffalo with 2,000 lbs of attitude, Bogo is reluctant to add Judy Hopps, Zootopia’s first bunny cop, to his squad of hardened rhinos, elephants and hippos.
J.K. Simmons as Mayor Leodore Lionheart, the noble leader of Zootopia, who coined the city’s mantra that Judy Hopps lives by: “In Zootopia, anyone can be anything.”
Nate Torrence
as the Zootopia Police Department’s most charming cheetah, Benjamin Clawhauser. He loves two things: pop star Gazelle and donuts. From his reception desk, he greets everyone with a warm smile and a helpful paw—covered in sprinkles.
Jenny Slate as Assistant MAYOR Bellwether, a sweet sheep with a little voice and a lot of wool, who constantly finds herself under foot of the larger-than-life Mayor Lionheart.
Tommy Chong as Yax the Yak, the most enlightened, laid-back bovine in Zootopia. When Judy Hopps is on a case, Yax is full of revealing insights.
Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterron, a desperate otter who turns to Officer Judy Hopps for help in solving her husband’s mysterious disappearance.
Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps, mother of Judy—and her 275 brothers and sisters. Mrs. Hopps loves and supports her daughter, but is a hare nervous about Judy moving to Zootopia to become a big-city police officer.
Raymond Persi
as Flash, the fastest sloth working at the DMV — the Department of Mammal Vehicles.
Don Lake as Judy’s father, Stu Hopps, a carrot farmer from Bunnyburrow. Along with Mrs. Hopps, he is worried about Judy moving to Zootopia and the untrustworthy big-city mammals who live there—especially foxes.
Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton, a small-time weasel crook with a big-time weasel mouth, who tries to give Judy the slip during a police chase.
Tommy “Tiny” Lister as Finnick, a fennec fox with a big chip on his adorable shoulder.
Katie Lowes as Dr. Madge Honey Badger, who heads up all of City Hall’s most pressing medical cases.
Jesse Corti as the jaguar Manchas, a highly regarded chauffeur who works for the biggest—and shadiest—limo company in town.
John DiMaggio as Jerry Jumbeaux Jr., the easily annoyed owner of Jumbeaux’s Café, his elephant ice cream parlor.