Zootopia (6Ter): this alternative and darker version which put the fox in the spotlight

Script changes are part of the common hazards during filming, and this was the case during the making of zootopia, broadcast on 6ter this Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 9:05 p.m. In the initial version of the project, it was Nick, the fox, who held the main role. Find out why it was ultimately rejected.

At Disney, the trend is to conquer a wider audience and an impeccable reputation. To restore its image tainted by the stereotypes long conveyed by their productions, the famous studios have some devilishly effective recipes: the adaptation of their most cult cartoons in live-actionlike the recent Pinocchio or the long awaited The little Mermaid, but also the production of new films, which stand out for their commitment to the fight against discrimination. It is in this vein that zootopia, to be seen again on 6ter this Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 9:05 p.m. We are passionate about this police investigation that looks like a buddy movie (and its nod to Snow Queen !) which follows the adventures of Judy, a young rabbit whose dream of becoming a police officer comes up against a more disappointing reality. In order to gain her legitimacy, she teams up with Nick, a slightly trickster fox, to investigate mysterious disappearances… A script that could have had a very different trajectory.

A much darker story

Original and captivating, this scenario will have seduced young and old, to the point of receiving multiple awards including the Oscar for best animated film in 2017. However, the story as we know it should have unfolded completely differently, to a much more serious and dark result. The character of Judy Hoops, enthusiastic and full of good will, was initially to give way to her accomplice, the crafty Nick. In the original version, the fox embodied a disillusioned hero, tired of living in a world where every trace of animal impulse is hunted down. Forced to wear collars, predators receive electric shocks whenever they experience a feeling considered dangerous because too “bestial”, such as anger or excitement. Over the course of his misadventures, Nick even found himself accused of a horrible crime that he had not committed!

Role reversal

Only one year before its theatrical release, the project is therefore experiencing a vast screenplay upheaval. Because even if zootopia should end with a happy ending with the abolition of the famous necklaces, the film crews judged the character of Nick too cynical, which prevented him from being endearing in the eyes of the public, and preferred the sympathetic Judy to him. The objective of this role reversal was also to give a lighter perspective to the story, opting for an optimistic and hopeful lesson in living together. Only regret of the producers? Having to give up certain scenes already made which, it seems, were to be as hilarious as they were effective. As a consolation, the adaptation of the feature film into a mini-series gave them the opportunity to prolong the pleasure.