'Zootopia 2' star Ke Huy Quan spoke about his performance as Gary, Disney animation's first CG snake.
The Walt Disney Company Korea held a press conference for the film 'Zootopia 2' (directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard) on the morning of the 18th. The event was attended by Jennifer Goodwin, who voiced the protagonist Judy, Ke Huy Quan as Gary, director Jared Bush who directed the film, and producer Yvette Merino. They spoke with the Korean press about the film via online video broadcast.
This film is expected to be this winter's top Disney blockbuster, combining a more expanded world with new animal characters and delightful team play. To that end, Ke Huy Quan, who won the Academy Award for best supporting actor for Everything Everywhere All at Once, joins as the new character Gary to bring fresh fun and energy.
Ke Huy Quan, who plays Gary, said, I was a huge fan of Zootopia. I remember seeing the movie in theaters. When I was offered the role of Gary, I wondered if the offer was really for me because my voice isn't scary. But I wanted to try acting as a reptile that has survived more than 100 years. The warm sensibility of this film was very important. I wanted audiences to feel the emotions Gary felt, and I hoped the character would be a warm-hearted one who overcomes the scary stigma of being a pit viper rather than being a frightening viper.
Director Jared Bush, who newly joined the production, said of the new character Gary, I have been fascinated by Disney's snakes since I first saw Disney's The Jungle Book. Back then the snake was hand-drawn, and Gary is probably the first snake made in CG. Ke Huy Quan did an absolutely wonderful job acting.
He continued, Gary is one of the emotional pillars of Zootopia 2. I wanted to twist audiences' expectations about reptiles. I also wanted to make people wonder why reptiles didn't appear in the first installment. I wanted to send the message that listening is necessary. I wanted to show how important and rewarding communication with someone who is different from you, someone who is not similar, can be.
Zootopia 2 is a thrilling chase-adventure film in which the returning best duo from Zootopia, the rabbit Judy and the fox Nick, pursue the mysterious snake Gary that shakes the city, leap into a new world, and investigate a perilous incident. It is the sequel to the Disney animated film Zootopia, which thrilled about 4.71 million viewers domestically in 2016. It opens on the 26th.
[Photo] Provided by The Walt Disney Company Korea.
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