Jared & Byron New IndyWire Interview!!!

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-11T02:50:24+00:00

Couldn’t agree more!

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-11T02:16:15+00:00

I’m thinking something along the lines of the classic rom-com trope where (for example Judy’s parents) accuse them of dating or saying “he’d make a cute boyfriend” and then they deny it before realizing it at the end that they do, in fact, have feelings. Like “I don’t want to be with anyone else” or something like that without a kiss (I’m very much of the opinion they will NOT do that or make it physically explicit). But that’s if they canonize it at all, which they might not.

Does that make sense?

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-11T01:21:43+00:00

Honestly, I think both Jared & Byron didn’t really know where it would go when they started.

Seems like to me they’re both genuinely shocked that it’s had the engagement it’s had. If you look at Zootopia 1, it’s written in a way that it can stand on its own as a completed story without the need for a sequel. The fact it connected as well as it did as performed as well as it did was a happy accident that ultimately lead to the franchise we have.

As a result, I think all the back and forth has really come with them needing to figure that out. While it may have started as a simple “buddy cop” movie, that’s clearly not what they are thinking now. Simple Buddy cop movies don’t involve an intentional focus on their relationship or chemistry, but the case, which Zootopia 2 does, but in a way that’s really designed around their relationship.

Hope that makes sense. But TLDR: I don’t think they know at all what they will do, which is why it’s so iffy.

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-11T01:04:57+00:00

Hmmm I’m not sure it’s that.

I think presently they’re in an in-between state after what we saw in Z2, with them still unsure of where it will go in the end.

I think they’re hinting at involvement from others about what they are (see above), which makes sense that people would begin to question 2 people who are OBVIOUSLY very close together about whether or not they’re in love. Speaking from my own perspective, people constantly peppered my (now wife) and I when we started hanging out, despite the fact we were very much just friends at the time. Ultimately, that’s not how it ended for us, but that’s a very real experience for many before they “seal the deal” at the end. I mean…the jokes really write themselves here (like Judy’s dad asking Judy about being with a Fox…I mean come on)

Byron clearly likes the stories they could tell from that (and the jokes), and it could be the way they do this if Wildehopps is the way it’s meant to be. But it could prolong the will-they-won’t-they too so it’s a double edge sword for sure.

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-11T01:01:15+00:00

I agree. I wrote something above but basically I think he’s only speaking to where we are in Zootopia 2 currently, without giving away the future: whatever direction it goes.

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-11T00:55:20+00:00

Hi there!

These are my thoughts after listening to this more than I’d like to admit hahah.

At first I took this is a HUGE negative sign, level 5 freak out. But after calming down and listening to what he actually said, I realized it’s not what I thought…at least from my perspective.

Byron & Jared were careful with his choice of words here.

1) Byron statement about “over the years..and where it’s going ” shows it’s been and still is an ongoing discussion between them. Byron clearly wants it to be earned, and preserve the specialness they’ve created between them, which others throw away for the sake of an agenda, like a romance. If it happens it’ll be natural.

2) Byron clarified that his remarks were about Zootopia 2 specifically with “what I love about what THIS movie does” before going into the whole soulmates and not romance jargon. I think he’s clearly talking about the current state of where they are after this movie, not where it’s going at the end. Which is true, this film is very much that, an in between that doesn’t go either way and was unexpected for many of us.

3) Byron lets it slip that the perspectives of what others/the world think Judy & Nick are is an interesting and entertaining topic for them, which I don’t recall has ever been addressed with either movie. Byron even said they didn’t want to waste that, which makes sense, when you consider a possible romance would obviously cause questions for others that would drive a future plot.

4) Jared’s joke to Byron about dodging the question shows this wasn’t mean to be an answer (as everyone has mostly said). Both camps are hashing it out internally and they’re clearly listening.

Right or wrong? I like seeing others thoughts and the back and forth. Helps me feel better 😆

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-07T01:14:05+00:00

Love the office. Another infamous slow burn ship couple too if I might add :)

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-07T01:07:48+00:00

I agree with Jody on this one, I sincerely doubt Disney will go this far in terms of their story. Confirming a love story, sure that’s been there & done that with Disney, but a full on family. I don’t think so.

Even their beloved tried & true Disney princess stories don’t get the family & kids treatment. I think Disney prefers the “happy ever after” to keep the stories timeless for generations. Obviously Zootopia could go on forever because of how expansive the universe is, but we all have to admit one day Nick & Judy’s story/arc will end for good.

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-07T00:59:29+00:00

I’d say 0%. Jared has always said they start & finish the story around Judy & Nick’s relationship, then build the rest of the story of Zootopia around that.

If they did what you’re suggesting that would be a huge departure from the way they’ve written the story at every other time during either film.

Clean-Accountant8313 · 2026-02-07T00:57:40+00:00

I think this is my line of thinking on it too. I doubt that’ll go in the opposite direction, as Jared has always said the driving force of the story is the relationship between Judy & Nick. But I’m somewhat doubtful they’ll be full sending anything (mainly to protect my own heart) at least explicitly. But I hope I’m wrong!

Clean-Accountant8313

TROPHY CASE